The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has demanded prison sentences of 2.5 to 9 years against five suspects for large-scale arms trafficking and possession. During the international investigation, a complete arsenal of weapons was found. In the homes of a mother and daughter in Rotterdam, a rocket launcher, firearms, ammunition, stun guns, 13 blocks of cocaine, and €220,000 in cash were seized.
The arrests and the discovery of the (automatic) firearms are the result of an intensive investigation by the National Investigation and Interventions Unit under the authority of the National Prosecutors Office, in collaboration with Colombia. The investigation started in August 2023 based on a tip that a Dutch-Colombian woman was involved in drug trafficking. This is also evident from decrypted SkyECC chat messages. Thus, more suspects come into view, including this group of five.
Rocket Launcher
From chat conversations between two half-brothers, a 31-year-old man from Zoetermeer and a 46-year-old man from Rotterdam, it appears that they are intensively involved in drug and arms trafficking. They talk about buying rocket launchers and send each other photos of weapons. The brothers also actually acquire an anti-tank weapon from a 40-year-old co-defendant from Rotterdam. The police arrest the man from Zoetermeer on January 29, 2024; his brother follows later.
Spiderman Bag
On January 29, the Dutch-Colombian woman is also arrested in Colombia on suspicion of cocaine trafficking, and large-scale searches take place in the Netherlands and Colombia. Police observations show that the brothers likely use the homes of others as stash locations. During a search of a woman (49) in Rotterdam-South, the police stumble upon a large arsenal of weapons. Under her bed, in a duffel bag, lies a loaded rocket launcher with a grenade, which is removed due to the great danger by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service. In addition, detectives find a machine gun and firearms hidden in a Spiderman bag. There is also nearly €220,000 in cash.
Cocaine in Meter Cabinet
Further in the home of her daughter (29), the police find five more firearms under the bed. There is also a bag with blocks of cocaine in the meter cabinet, 13 in total. Mother and daughter are arrested shortly thereafter. DNA traces of the suspects have been found on various seized firearms. The brothers deny any involvement; the women remain silent.
“The rocket launcher was stored dangerously in a portico house in the middle of a residential area in Rotterdam. The OM particularly reproaches the suspects that the weapons and drugs were readily accessible in homes where a young child also stayed. The firearms were even stored in the same room as the crib. Even keeping weapons in a childrens bag was not too much for these suspects.”
The OM demands a prison sentence of 9 years for the man from Zoetermeer for arms trafficking, drug possession, and money laundering totaling €812,000. Part of this is the €200,000 from the Rotterdam home, where his fingerprints were found. The OM wants his half-brother to go to prison for 7 years. For the mother and daughter who managed the stash, the prosecutor demanded 5 years in prison. The supplier of the rocket launcher is facing 2.5 years in prison.
Colombian Suspect
The woman who was arrested in the same investigation in Colombia for drug trafficking has been extradited to the Netherlands. She will stand trial later.
The court will issue its verdict on July 28.