News report | 09-12-2025 | 13:38
The Public Prosecution Service of East Netherlands demands prison sentences of up to 9 years for two large drug transports earlier this year, totaling over 1600 kilos. “This is an enormous amount rarely found on the road,” the Public Prosecution Service said today at the court in Zutphen.
The first drug transport from Rotterdam was observed by police on June 26. A car contained 57 kilos of cocaine. In Ede, the first person, a 54-year-old suspect from Apeldoorn, was arrested. The second suspect, who distributed the drugs in boxes and a bag at a parking lot in Rotterdam, was not arrested, but the investigation continues.
This led to a second transport on July 8, where the third and fourth suspects literally appeared on camera. From Gorinchem, the three suspects departed in two vehicles – a van and a vehicle with an open loading bed – to a business premises in Lelystad. On the way back to Gorinchem, three pallets were in the loading bed. When suspects were caught red-handed in the van, 398 kilos of drugs were found, and in the loading bed, no less than 1189 kilos of cocaine.
A rented storage unit in Gorinchem turned out to be a stash location, where among other things 65 grams of drugs, jammers, and a scale were found. The three suspects were seen more often on camera footage there (in varying compositions).
Only the suspect from the first transport (to Ede) confessed. The Public Prosecution Service demands 48 months, of which 12 months conditional, against the Apeldoorn suspect.
The other three, all from Rotterdam, exercised their right to remain silent until the hearing. Against the suspect involved in both transports, a 37-year-old man, the Public Prosecution Service demands a 9-year prison sentence. A 55-year-old Rotterdam resident (who has a 21-page criminal record) should receive an 8-year sentence according to the Public Prosecution Service, and the last, a 22-year-old suspect, 7 years in prison.
The public prosecutor today at court during the motivation of the sentences: “We know the misery that comes with drugs, such as addiction problems and debt problems for users and serious crime that is daily news. Robberies, shootings, rip deals, and attacks on homes are just some examples. By transporting and distributing such huge quantities of drugs, these suspects contributed significantly to maintaining this crime.”
On November 13, 2025, a 53-year-old resident from Lelystad was arrested in Spain in this investigation. This suspect was extradited to the Netherlands on November 26, 2025, and is currently detained. This person will appear in court at a later date.
