Today, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) demanded prison sentences ranging from 18 months to 7.5 years against five suspects. Additionally, the OM is claiming over €1.2 million and over €260,000 in two so-called confiscation cases against two suspects. The case of the main suspect will be handled at a later time due to circumstances. The suspicions concern habitual money laundering of over 13.6 million euros, illegal trade in ketamine, forgery, and possession of (parts of) a firearm and ammunition.
Reason and course of criminal investigation
The case started after various reports to Meld Misdaad Anoniem (MMA), Team Criminele Inlichtingen (TCI), and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) in 2018 and 2019, after which a criminal investigation was initiated. Following searches on August 27 and 31, 2020, FIODs investigation quickly revealed a mixing between the underworld and upper world. The proceeds of large-scale illegal ketamine trade were introduced into the legal payment system by suspects through an extensive money laundering operation via, among others, Dubai and China.
Different money laundering routes
The 58-year-old main suspect, whose case has been adjourned and will be handled later due to circumstances, was involved together with a co-suspect residing in Dubai, who was tried in absentia, in illegal ketamine trade and money laundering. Two of their co-suspects participated in the illegal ketamine trade, one co-suspect facilitated the money laundering, and one co-suspect profited from the laundering of funds. Millions of euros were earned through illegal ketamine trade. The earned money was funneled through three different money laundering methods. In the period 2017-2018, the money was mainly laundered by making cash deposits into bank accounts of the suspects company: a webshop in sports nutritional supplements. The 43-year-old co-suspect used false documents to make the webshops cash administration appear correct. The deposited money was then used for the webshops operations but also to purchase private real estate and luxury cars. In this way, a total of approximately 792,629 euros was laundered.
In 2018-2019, a money laundering route was used mainly facilitated by the 55-year-old suspect residing in Dubai. This suspect managed criminal money of the main suspect there and made payments from Dubai at his request. Among other things, criminal money was transferred to the suspects company and to a Spanish contractor to buy and renovate apartments in Málaga. In total, nearly 3 million euros were laundered this way.
In 2019-2020, cash in the Netherlands was converted into non-cash money via China and Hong Kong. In this way, over 10.5 million euros were laundered. From bank accounts there, the money mainly flowed to bank accounts of companies linked to the suspects. The facilitator who acted as the spider in the web was already on trial at the end of last year for (among other things) this money laundering construction.
Disruptive effect
At the hearing, the public prosecutor emphasized the cunning of the money laundering methods used by the suspects: “This case clearly involves a mixing of the upper and underworld. Money with a criminal origin flows back into society through seemingly legitimate companies. The commission of other criminal offenses, such as drawing up or using loan agreements or invoices, was also not shunned. And the suspects benefit from that. They lead an unprecedented luxury life: they buy real estate at home and abroad, have several cars from the expensive segment at their disposal, make other investments, and leave people and society with the damage.” As is known, money laundering of criminal funds poses a threat to the legitimate economy and undermines the integrity of financial and economic traffic. The trade in ketamine also constitutes a serious infringement of the legal order and has a disruptive influence on society. Although ketamine is not on any of the lists under the Opium Act, it is popular as a party drug. Therefore, there is high demand, which drives the illegal trade. Moreover, the substance is addictive and its use poses serious health risks.
Sentencing demands
At the hearing, the public prosecutor requested the forfeiture of several (residential) properties, luxury cars, and bank accounts of the suspects. Two confiscation claims were also made: a claim of 1,282,482 euros against the 57-year-old female suspect and 269,584 euros against the 61-year-old co-suspect.
The OM demands, among others, 7.5 years, 48 months of which 18 conditional, 30 months of which 10 conditional, and 18 months unconditional imprisonment.
