Dutch police arrest 10, seize dozens of firearms and explosives in nationwide raids
Ten people—eight men and two women—were arrested Wednesday after police discovered dozens of handguns, hand grenades, and other explosives during coordinated house searches across several Dutch provinces, authorities said Thursday.
The arrests follow an ongoing investigation by the national police's Unit for Expertise and Operations, which began in early May. The case was triggered when officers at the Ermelo train station witnessed what they described as a likely arms deal.
According to police, officers observed a man handing over a bag to another individual who briefly entered and exited a vehicle. Upon stopping the car, police found the driver in possession of 100 live rounds of ammunition. This observation led to a broader criminal investigation targeting suspected arms trafficking and weapons possession.
On Wednesday, police carried out a series of searches that uncovered dozens of handguns, several hand grenades, various types of ammunition, explosive materials, a 3D printer, and parts of 3D-printed firearms. The Explosives Ordnance Disposal unit (EOD) was called in to secure four of the searched locations.
The suspects range in age from 22 to 59 and come from multiple regions, including Heerhugowaard, Zandvoort, Diessen (Noord-Brabant), Hagestein (Utrecht), Eefde (Gelderland), Brielle (Zuid-Holland), Hellevoetsluis, and Haarlem.
