The Public Prosecution Service (OM) demanded prison sentences ranging from 28 to 81 months (almost 7 years) against seven suspects for involvement in two drug transports to England. The blocks, totaling 142 kilos of cocaine and heroin, were hidden in a concealed space in a camper. The men were caught red-handed and arrested.
On September 13, 2024, an observation team witnessed how the suspects loaded the packages with drugs into the camper. It was then on its way to the boat in Hoek van Holland. During this prepared action, the police found 130 kilograms of cocaine and heroin. The packages were ingeniously hidden behind a workbench in the camper. The police arrested a total of nine suspects.
Intercepted Messages
The investigation started in 2023 based on intercepted Encrochat and SkyECC chat messages by the police. This led to one of the men being identified as being involved in drug smuggling to England. As detectives kept him in sight, they also gained insight into the other suspects. These are men aged between 33 and 58 from Dordrecht, Rotterdam, Sassenheim, Vinkeveen, Volendam, and Nijmegen and surrounding areas.
Warehouse
Observations and phone data from the suspects led the police to a warehouse in Slootdorp, North Holland. The men used this warehouse to load the drugs into the camper. The suspects had made several test trips to England, including a transport of 12 kilos of cocaine in August 2024. The men went to England with the camper for motorcycle races but had a double agenda.
Roles
The suspects each had their own role. According to the prosecutor from the National Prosecutors Office, two leaders of the organization are the brains behind the drug line. Additionally, there is a driver, a co-driver, and a supplier of the drugs. Two other men drove in a follow car behind the camper to deliver the drugs to the buyers in England. When police officers actually saw the drug packages going into the camper on September 13, they intervened.
The OM suspects the defendants of also participating in a criminal organization. Two suspects are being prosecuted for earlier transports to England and Scandinavia in addition to the two drug transports. Evidence for this comes from Encrochat and SkyECC messages. The OM and the defense have made procedural agreements with seven suspects. Two men from Rotterdam and Dordrecht will stand trial later.
Procedural Agreements
The OM believes that making procedural agreements contributes to an efficient resolution of criminal cases. It has been agreed that the prosecutor will lower the sentence demand and that the defense will not contest the evidence or appeal. The court has the final word and decides whether the agreed sentence demands will actually be imposed. If so, it will amount to a total of 27 years in prison.
Ruling in two weeks.