This week, three suspects are on trial for international drug trafficking. The drugs originated from Ecuador and were concealed among flowers. The defendants include a 61-year-old man from Aalsmeer, a 55-year-old man from Leiden, and a 36-year-old man from Roosendaal. The North Holland Public Prosecution Service (OM) has established that the men from Aalsmeer and Roosendaal are guilty of importing and transporting 50 kilograms of cocaine to the Netherlands via Schiphol airport. Furthermore, the Public Prosecution Service has found evidence that the men from Aalsmeer and Leiden took preparatory actions for other drug shipments. Additionally, the man from Leiden is accused of possessing firearms and ammunition. The Public Prosecution Service is seeking prison sentences of up to eight years and four months.
Continued Criminal Activities
The investigation commenced in 2019 based on information from the Criminal Intelligence Team, revealing that the man from Aalsmeer was planning to import cocaine from Ecuador to the Netherlands. In March 2021, the homes and businesses of this individual and the co-suspect from Leiden were searched, and the suspects were interrogated a month later. It is noteworthy that six months after these searches and interrogations, investigative services in Ecuador intercepted a shipment of flowers containing cocaine. The transport, organized by these suspects after their initial interrogations, was intended for their flower trading companies in the Netherlands. The public prosecutor stated, "The warned suspects disregarded the ongoing criminal investigation against them. On the contrary, they persisted in their criminal activities following the raid on their homes and businesses."
GPS Tracker
The investigation has revealed that the suspects had been preparing for the import of cocaine for an extended period. On December 11, 2020, a consignment of 50 kilograms of cocaine was indeed imported by the men from Aalsmeer and Roosendaal. The officer commented, "The consignment was equipped with a GPS tracker, enabling the suspects to monitor the valuable shipment of cocaine. Correspondence regarding this shipment occurred via encrypted messages, predominantly used for criminal activities. It is utterly incredulous that expensive and unnecessary crypto phones are employed in the regular flower trade."
Violence
Trafficking hard drugs is accompanied by an extreme level of violence. Daily reports detail explosions at residences, with innocent civilians falling victim to violence stemming from the hard drug trade. In this instance, the suspects also jeopardized the safety and integrity of the international transport sector at Schiphol and facilitated corruption at the airport.
Unconditional Prison Sentences
The Public Prosecution Service has established that the suspects are complicit in the import of cocaine concealed in flower shipments via Schiphol Airport and engaged in preparatory acts aimed at narcotics importation over an extended period. Furthermore, the Public Prosecution Service has found evidence that the man from Leiden had access to a firearm and ammunition. Accordingly, the Public Prosecution Service is seeking unconditional prison sentences: 8 years and 4 months against the man from Aalsmeer, 5 years and 10 months against the man from Roosendaal, and 5.5 years against the man from Leiden.
The court is expected to deliver its ruling on June 28.