Criminals use legal businesses and services for their illegal activities. Drugs or raw materials for drugs need to be stored somewhere, just like counterfeit goods or weapons. Sometimes buildings are used to process drugs or to deal from. Criminals also need workspace, electricity, water, and other products and services from the normal world. Enforcement Team Leader Undermining: “I understand that undermining is a vague concept for many people or seems like a distant issue, but it is not. If there is a storage of chemicals in the warehouse next to your business, there is a risk of an explosion. Cannabis plantations can lead to fire or flooding. As soon as the underworld and upper world mix, residents and entrepreneurs come into contact with undermining crime. With the risk of subsequently facing nuisance, drug waste, intimidation, extortion, violence, and power positions of (groups of) persons.”
The Enforcement Team Undermining of the Municipality of Rotterdam, environmental and alcohol and hospitality supervisors, Police and Customs each checked for possible forms of undermining within their own expertise and powers. In one of the units, there were 23 barrels each containing 200 liters of chemicals. For this, the Forensic Investigation came to the building for research. It turned out to be acetone, ammonia, and hydrochloric acid. These substances are known to be used for processing cocaine. The danger posed by the total of 4600 liters of chemicals was enormous. In case of fire, an explosion of unforeseen magnitude could have occurred. The police are conducting further investigations into those involved.
In one of the other units, an estimated 10,000 counterfeit branded items were found. The clothing was seized. The police are also conducting further investigations here. The inspection in the business unit where the drugs were found led to a follow-up investigation at a house in Barendrecht. In this house, 15 cobras, heavy illegal fireworks, were found. Among the cobras were two Cobra 20s. Where a Cobra 6 already has the power of a hand grenade, the explosive power of a Cobra 20 is many times higher. In addition, flash powder, the explosive substance in cobras, is a mass explosive. This means it reacts so violently that all fireworks containing flash powder explode together. If one goes off, the rest go off as well. And the static energy from, for example, a vacuum cleaner over carpet is enough to ignite the lot. The fireworks were assessed by the TEV, the Explosives Reconnaissance Team, and then safely removed. A 19-year-old man from Barendrecht was arrested.
Report Crime
In tackling undermining and ensuring a safe working environment, reports from entrepreneurs or visitors to business parks are indispensable. Suspicious situation? Report it to the police (0900-8844) or share your suspicion anonymously with Report Crime Anonymously (0800-7000). Curious about which signals could indicate crime? Then visit www.houdmisdaaduitjebuurt.nl.