Defense employee arrested after large haul of military equipment found in home
A 31-year-old Defense employee was arrested Monday in Zwijndrecht after authorities discovered a large stockpile of military equipment in his home, the Koninklijke Marechaussee said. Officials believe much of the material was stolen from a military base.
The search of the residence on Bilderdijkstraat uncovered weapons, bulletproof vests, helmets, field beds, tents, knives, tools, tablets, ammunition, and cash. Two buses were used to try and remove the items, but a fully loaded Defense truck was later called in due to the volume of material. The total number of items seized has not been confirmed.
The suspect is employed by the Defense Security Service. The investigation began after multiple reports of theft from military bases. The Marechaussee, a branch of the Dutch military responsible for some policing duties, including investigating crimes allegedly committed by armed forces personnel, led the operation.
A spokesperson for the Marechaussee said, “Research must determine exactly what items are involved and whether everything is indeed stolen.” Authorities have not disclosed the suspect’s intended use for the weapons and equipment.
The arrest and seizure are part of an ongoing investigation conducted by the Marechaussee under the supervision of the Public Prosecution Service in Arnhem.
