The court in Amsterdam sentenced a 49-year-old man from Rotterdam to 24 months in prison, twelve months conditional, and a fine of five thousand euros. The verdict took into account procedural agreements made between the Public Prosecution Service and the defense regarding the sentence length.
The man from Rotterdam was caught when he reported to a ship from Colombia on September 10, 2024. He pretended to be a maritime inspector and said he came to take samples of cooking oil. However, that cargo had already been unloaded in Rotterdam. Because he could not name a company he worked for, the ships captain became suspicious and denied him access to the ship. The alerted police and Customs arrested the suspect on the secured port area. With the help of a sniffer dog, twelve blocks of cocaine were found hidden in the lowered ceiling of a smoking room on the ship.
Occupational Risk Group
Although the port of Rotterdam has long been known as an important hub, the Public Prosecution Service sees a trend where criminal organizations exploit the relative inconspicuousness of the port of Amsterdam. A proven method is to hide cocaine in the cargo holds of ships. In South America, the drugs are hidden in the ships hold and picked up in the Netherlands by someone who has access to the ship and knows where the drugs are hidden.
One occupational group involved and posing a risk for criminal activities is maritime inspectors, also called surveyors. They are hired by shipping companies for inspections and have access to various spaces on board. According to the Public Prosecution Service, this case highlights the need for stricter controls and screening procedures for maritime inspectors to prevent individuals from abusing this position for criminal activities.
Procedural Agreements
The Public Prosecution Service and the defense negotiated the settlement of the case and recorded it in procedural agreements. These include that the Public Prosecution Service will demand a prison sentence of 24 months, twelve months conditional, and a fine of five thousand euros, and will not file a confiscation claim. The defense will not present any evidence defenses and will withdraw the submitted investigative requests. The suspect agreed to the agreements because he wants to put the case behind him as soon as possible and move on with his life.
The court considers the prison sentence and fine demanded by the Public Prosecution Service appropriate and justified.
