Criminal facilitators bust: 6 arrests, over €1.4 mil. in items seized

In a major investigation into so-called criminal facilitators, the FIOD uncovered a large network of drug, weapons and anabolic steroids traffickers. Six people from Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland, Utrecht and Flevoland were arrested over the past months. The FIOD seized 450 thousand euros in cash and bank balances, and over a million euros worth of ecstasy, steroids and medicines, AD reports.

The main suspects in this case are two criminal facilitators - a 66-year-old man from Hillegom and a 61-year-old man from Hoek van Holland. According to the FIOD, the Tax Authority's investigative department, the men are the directors of a company that provided financial services to at least 10 criminals who traded in drugs, weapons, and steroids. The facilitators arranged cars and homes for the criminals, which they could use without it being in their name, and forged employer statements, bank statements and payslips for them.

The investigation into the two suspected facilitators started via a money laundering investigation in the Haarlemmermeer region. That investigation led investigators to traders in drugs and steroids, one of which drove a brand new Volkswagen Passat through a shadowy lease construction. The car had a hidden space for transporting illegal items. That car led the investigators to the main suspects' company. By investigating these criminal facilitators, the FIOD identified 10 criminals suspected of trafficking in heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, soft drugs and weapons.

More arrests may will follow, as the investigation is still ongoing.