It is the Week Against Undermining, a week in which various municipalities and organizations dealing with safety and enforcement undertake many actions to combat undermining. Curious about what we mean by undermining, watch our explanatory video made especially for this week.
Undermining takes many forms; from money laundering and unfair competition among entrepreneurs, to drug production or weapon storage in homes, to labor exploitation and human trafficking. Together with the Customs, Tax Authorities, various inspection services, housing corporations, and municipalities, the police in Rotterdam organized about 20 undermining actions this week. There were checks on the hospitality industry, business premises, rental homes, and the automotive industry.
Automotive Control
The automotive industry, the collective name for companies engaged in the production, sale, or repair of cars, is attractive to criminals. Business premises can be used for storing money, weapons, or drugs, while the companies themselves can be used to launder money or conceal other illegal practices. With a messy administration, stolen vehicles or parts can be traded. The cars themselves can be used to transport drugs or other smuggled goods. This week, the police, municipality, and tax authorities checked cars, garages, and other car businesses in various locations. For example, it was checked whether cars or parts were not stolen, whether the administration was in order, whether the staff did not work too long or under poor conditions, and whether businesses were not secretly used for money laundering or drug trafficking. Such criminal practices attract the wrong customers and can cause nuisance or even danger to the environment.
Cannabis Control Capelle aan den IJssel
In Delfshaven, various shops and businesses were checked on Wednesday. On Thursday, various companies and vehicles were checked in the Rivium in Capelle aan den IJssel. Earlier that week, on Tuesday, checks were also conducted in Capelle aan den IJssel together with the grid operator Stedin. In one house, 189 cannabis plants were found in the attic. These were almost ready for harvest. There was also a bag with 1800 grams of cannabis buds, ready for sale and with a street value of about €20,000. The resident of the property (39) has been arrested.
Possible Cutting Location Nissewaard
The enforcement department of the municipality of Nissewaard conducted a GBA check on Tuesday at an address that was presumably not used as a residence, despite being registered as such. During the check, enforcement smelled a cannabis odor and suspected that more was going on. The police were informed. During the check of the basement box, the stamp of a drug press was found, indicating possible use as a cutting location.
Cutting Location Rotterdam-South
The rental housing sector also appears to be a vulnerable industry, sensitive to undermining. In Rotterdam-South, police, municipality, and housing corporations visited several homes on Tuesday for a chat with the residents. From a care and prevention perspective, but also with a check, each within their own authority. In one of the homes, the police found a cutting location. A cutting location is a place where drugs are cut and mixed with other substances to increase the volume and thus earn more from the drugs. With the help of presses, the drugs are repressed into a block, after which they can be packaged. In the house, in addition to 21 blocks of (presumably) heroin and cutting agents, there were also presses used in this process. One person has been arrested. It concerns a 29-year-old man from India.
Outlying Areas Voorne aan Zee
On Wednesday, the police, together with the Municipality of Voorne aan Zee, LTO, and the Platform for Safe Entrepreneurship, visited the entrepreneurs in the outlying areas. Criminals are increasingly trying to involve farmers and landowners in their illegal activities in a sneaky way. They often start with a friendly request: they want to rent a shed or piece of land. This may seem attractive, especially if they offer a high price and ask few questions. However, the chances are high that it involves criminal activities such as drug production or storage of stolen goods. As an entrepreneur, you run significant risks here. To learn more about the risks of storing or producing drugs, listen to the podcast we made especially for this week. By providing entrepreneurs with prevention tips, they become more resilient against criminal practices and more aware of the importance of reporting.
ANPR Action Spanish Polder
The basic team Midden-Schieland conducted an action in the Spanish polder on Wednesday together with the tax authorities. Based on license plate recognition, license plates were compared with a list of wanted license plates using a special camera. License plates of drivers who had outstanding fines were directed by motor officers to a control location. There, outstanding fines were collected. For drivers who could not pay, the cars were seized. In total, 42 cars were stopped and checked, of which 7 were ultimately seized. Over 40,000 euros were collected, and one driver was driving without a license. All in all, another successful action!
Many Actions in the Port of Rotterdam
The Port Police conducts undermining actions every day in their special work area. They checked for long-term moorings (ships that stay in the port for a long time), provided information, checked inland shipping skippers, and conducted dynamic (traffic) checks. The port is a focus area for criminals and is remote enough that undermining can sometimes take place invisibly. Therefore, it is crucial that the police maintain good contact with businesses and port workers. They are the eyes and ears that can pick up and report undermining signals.
Do you want to know how to recognize undermining in your neighborhood? Take a look at www.houdmisdaaduitjebuurt.nl. If you see suspicious situations in your neighborhood, report it to the police at 0900-8844 or, if urgent, at 112. If you want to report but prefer to remain anonymous, you can contact M. at 0800-7000.