Illegal workers and organized crime ties found in large-scale police inspection
Authorities discovered eight illegal workers and multiple links between the transport sector and organized crime during a large-scale inspection at Royal FloraHolland. The operation, conducted on March 10 and 11, targeted potential labor exploitation and criminal infiltration in the floral industry, the police reports.
Thousands of trucks transport fresh flowers across the Netherlands and beyond every day, reportedly making the floral industry an attractive sector for criminal organizations. Authorities conduct frequent large-scale inspections to prevent labor exploitation and the misuse of the sector for activities such as drug smuggling.
During the latest Transport Facilitated Organized Crime (TFOC) inspection, police, customs officials, and the labor inspectorate, in collaboration with Royal FloraHolland and the municipalities of Aalsmeer and Uithoorn, checked 70 trucks and four companies.
The labor inspectorate is now investigating the eight foreign nationals found working illegally at one of the inspected companies. Officials also uncovered evidence of at least eight instances where the transport sector had direct ties to international organized crime.
The findings strengthen law enforcement’s efforts to combat criminal activities within the industry. Officials identified various violations, including driving without the required license, using another driver’s card, and operating commercial vehicles without proper documentation. Authorities issued 22 fines for serious infractions, and one driver’s license was confiscated.
