It is thought that the suspects belong to a range of motorcycle clubs
Translated by Thomas Ansell
The police have arrested seven people in the North, in relation to a large international drugs operation. Seventeen raids took place in Leeuwarden, Harlingen, Noardburgum (Tytsjerksteradiel) and Westergeest (Noardeast-Fryslân), which have led to the arrests. The Omrop Fryslân reports that several of the people arrested were members of various motorcycle clubs.
One, for example, is a member of the Hells Angels in Harlingen, and another a member of the Red Devils in Leeuwarden. Another is a member of the Hells Angels Finland. The various suspects are being held with access only to their lawyers.
The arrests follow a police discovery of around 100 kilograms of amphetamine, which was intercepted at the German border, on its way to Finland. The amphetamine was estimated to have had a value of around 700,000 euros in Finland.
The suspects have been held for further questioning, and to allow the police to conduct enquiries. They are suspected of being part of an international hard-drugs cartel, the laundering of money, and being part of a criminal organisation. Around 170 police and Ministry of Defence staff and officers contributed to the raids and investigation.
The raids and arrests follow wide-scale investigations by regional officers, and the Openbaar Ministry (the Dutch service for public prosecutions).
Image (stock image) by US Customs and Border Protection on WikiMedia
.jpg){kind=link}