Mystery: Police smash into recycling company for large operation stumping business owner

By Anna Paganini on January 9, 2018 - 11:00
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Members of a Dutch police SWAT team (Stock Photo: Politie). Members of a Dutch police SWAT team (Stock Photo: Politie)

Update, 12:30 p.m., 9 January 2017: Details about the police sting, contraband, and three arrests were added to this story after authorities released more information.

Police in the Netherlands used an armored battering vehicle Monday night to smash through the closed gates of a paper recycling company in Oosterhout, Noord-Brabant. No reason for the heavy response was given by authorities, leaving the recycling firm owner mystified.

It turns out that police were tracking a sea container delivered to a warehouse at the Van Puijfelik paper company from Antwerp, Belgium. Authorities said they used a helicopter and a drone to support the operation.

Inside the container police found 40 kilos of cocaine. A Dutch man from Breda, another from Ridderkerk, and a man from the Dominican Republic were arrested immediately. All three will be remanded in Amsterdam this week, police said just before noon on Tuesday.

A search of the Dutch men's homes turned up a firearm, police added. 

The owner of the company, Jaimy van Puijfelik, was not present during the tactical assault. He was, in his own words, astonished. "I went to take a look, but we were not allowed to get in... they have not told us anything. This is not normal", he told BN DeStem "I have no idea what is happening."   

The raid was part of a bigger criminal investigation, and authorities were concerned that releasing information too soon could compromise the research. 

 

 

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