The National Unit for Investigation and Interventions started the investigation under the direction of the National Prosecutors Office after information from a recent investigation by the National Criminal Investigation Department into a municipal official. In this investigation, a municipal official from Amsterdam is suspected of leaking privacy-sensitive information from government systems to criminals. It was established that at multiple addresses, for which the official provided information, an attack was carried out shortly thereafter, resulting in significant damage and a sense of insecurity in neighborhoods. Therefore, the police conducted further investigation.

Information Brokers

Criminal organizations are increasingly using corrupt contacts within the government. So-called information brokers buy off civil servants in exchange for information such as personal data, addresses, or license plates. This information is then used by criminal organizations for threats, intimidation, attacks, or other violent incidents. The National Unit for Investigation and Interventions and the National Criminal Investigation Department work together to tackle this phenomenon.

Two men arrested by the police on July 9 are suspected of being information brokers. They requested and received personal and license plate data from the Amsterdam municipal official.

These two suspects were presented to the examining magistrate on Friday, July 11, and have been placed in custody. They are under restrictions. The third man is suspected of money laundering. He has since been released but remains a suspect in the investigation. The investigation continues, and the police do not rule out further arrests.