The suspects, aged 20, 22, 26, and 48 from Amsterdam, Huizen, and Utrecht, were arrested on suspicion of involvement in a series of cash machine explosions in Germany. During the two days, searches were conducted at 14 locations in Amsterdam, Huizen, Utrecht, Zeist, Den Bosch, and De Wijde Meren, and various items were seized such as cash, crypto wallets, data carriers, expensive jewelry, and luxury goods. Items related to the commission of cash machine explosions, such as clothing, fake license plates, and balaclavas, were also seized. At a location in the municipality of De Wijde Meren, detectives discovered a car that was very likely used in the cash machine explosions. The car contained explosives and twelve barrels of gasoline. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) removed the explosives from the car and detonated them the same day.

Investigation

In early 2024, Europol formed a Joint Investigation Team that investigated a series of cash machine explosions in Germany. In this team, the cash machine explosion team from Midden-Nederland collaborated with Europol, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), and the State Criminal Police Office of North Rhine-Westphalia (LKA), resulting in a total of 18 (Dutch) suspects being arrested.

European Cooperation

The Dutch police have been intensively cooperating with Europol and the German police for some time in tracking down individuals who blow up cash machines abroad. Dutch banks have taken preventive measures that make blowing up cash machines pointless. For this reason, Dutch perpetrators have shifted their operational area to countries like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Cecile Kosterman, head of the Regional Investigation Service Midden-Nederland: “It is essential to continue to pool knowledge and resources at the European level to stop cash machine explosions and the increasing use of explosives by Dutch criminals. Cross-border cooperation is urgently needed to track down and prosecute cash machine robbers. At the same time, we are working with partners to prevent this form of crime.”

Undermining

It is of great importance that the Dutch police continue to investigate Dutch individuals who blow up cash machines abroad. The explosives used by the cash machine robbers also pose significant risks in our country. The explosives used are assembled and stored in our neighborhoods, in homes, businesses, and storage units. Additionally, the cash machine robbers drive at very high speeds on highways to evade the police. The stolen money is

invested in other forms of crime, such as drug trafficking.

Signals

You can assist in the investigation by providing information about suspicious locations and/or individuals who may be involved in such criminal activities. Do you have information? Please contact the police, even anonymously.

For more information about this international investigation, you can find it in this press release from Europol.