Police find €500k in bags; 3 held for money laundering

Police the Amsterdam arrested three suspects on suspicion of money laundering after finding 500,000 euros in cash. The majority of the money was found in a gym bag and a shopping bag in one suspect's temporary residence.

The arrest happened on December 7 when detectives from a national police office broke up a meeting between the three men, finding 80,000 in a backpack. Of the three taken into custody, two are Albanian, aged 30 and 34. The third is a 40-year-old Lebanese person.

Following the arrest, police searched the Lebanese man's abode, finding the remaining 420,000 in two bags.

A magistrate was scheduled to decide on Thursday if the detention of the older Albanian and the Lebanese person should be extended. Police released the younger Albanian.