Rocket launchers, machine guns seized in Dutch-Croatian weapons bust

Brabant-oost police prevented a large batch of heavy weaponry from entering the Netherlands in a joint operation with Croatian police. Three were arrested including a 64-year-old Dutchman with six rocket launchers, heavy machine guns, Kalashnikov rifles, handguns, grenades and ammunition in his van. Police say they got a break in the weapons trafficking case late last year when a 42-year-old man from Den Bosch, Noord-Brabant with heavy weapons tried to travel back into the Netherlands after a visit in Croatia. A major investigation was launched immediately, police say. The investigators thought the weapons delivery would have arrived during the holidays but further investigation showed that the actual date of the arrival was planned for January 7th. During Wednesday morning the Dutch police arrested the same 42-year-old as a prime suspect in the case. Around the same time, a 38-year-old man from Den Bosch was arrested as an accomplice. Both men are still in police custody. At the same time, Croatian police arrested the 64-year-old Dutchman, now living in Belgium, while he was driving a van loaded with the heavy weaponry. Police say their investigation into the case is ongoing.