Wiretaps at motorcycle gang clubhouse uncovered drug trafficking: Police
The police wiretapped the Emmen clubhouse of motorcycle gang No Surrender. Overheard conversations revealed that crimes were structurally committed in the building, including drug trafficking and assaults, Prosecutor Pieter van Rest revealed in a press conference about a raid on the clubhouse on Friday morning, AD reports.
The police listened in on the clubhouse for some six months. During that time numerous conversations were overheard. The police also heard "sniffing- and hacking sounds", which would indicate drug use. Drug pricing agreements and profits were discussed. And police officers also heard members being assaulted, the Prosecutor said at a press conference on Friday.
The tapping operation also revealed that new members have to pay thousands of euros in membership fees, buy drugs by one of the board members and are constantly reminded about their duty to stay silent to the outside world. Some of these reminders were violent.
The clubhouse was raided on the order of the Emmen mayor early on Friday morning. An emergency decree was implemented and the area around the clubhouse was closed down. One person was arrested.
Henk Kuipers, leader of the outlaw motorcycle gang, responded to the raid on Facebook. He called the raid "to sad for words". According to him, all the authorities achieved with the raid is ensuring that No Surrender is no longer in one place. "Soon we will be everywhere", he wrote.
