Airport worker arrested in 120 kilgraoms cocaine bust at Schiphol
The Koninklijke Marechaussee arrested a 48-year-old airport employee on Monday after intercepting over 120 kilograms of cocaine at Schiphol. The man is suspected of involvement in international drug trafficking.
Customs officers found the cocaine hidden in several suitcases on a flight from Banjul in Gambia on Sunday, May 19, and called in the Koninklijke Marechaussee. “Investigation into the intercepted cargo led to an employee of a company at the airport. He was arrested in Amsterdam,” the Marechaussee said on Wednesday.
Marechaussee officers investigated the suspect’s home and seized a firearm, ammunition, and thousands of euros in cash, among other things. The man is in custody and will be arraigned on Friday. The investigation is ongoing.
500 kg cocaine seized in Vlissingen
Customs officers also intercepted 497 kilograms of cocaine at the port of Vlissingen on Saturday, May 18. The drugs were hidden in a shipment of bananas from Ecuador, which was on its way to a company in Germany, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) said on Thursday.
The drugs, with an estimated street value of over 37 million euros, were destroyed. The Koninklijke Marechuassee is investigating.
The Koninklijke Marechaussee is a policing force that works as part of the Dutch military. In addition to policing the Dutch armed forces, the Marechaussee is responsible for border security in the Netherlands, including at airports and seaports.
