Police in three countries bust up Brabant drug ring, six arrested

The police dealt a blow to a Roosendaal "crime family" on Tuesday by busting a drugs export ring. The police suspect that this "family" has earned millions of euros by operating a drug ring, exporting soft drugs to France for years. The police, in cooperation with the municipalities of Roosendaal and Etten-Leur, the tax authorities, FIOD and the Public Prosecutor, raided and searched 24 addresses in and around Etten-Leur and Roosendal on Tuesday. These actions formed part of a 1.5 year ongoing investigation in which the Dutch government collaborated closely with the French judicial authorities. Simultaneous to these raids, the police in Spain also raided tow addresses in southern Spain. A total of 6 suspects were arrested. These suspects include two men, aged 50 and 34 years, and two women, aged 41 and 39 years, all four of them from Roosendal. They are suspected of violating the Opium Act and money laundering and are in custody for further investigation. Two men, aged 25 and 27 years of French nationality, showed up at one of the businesses premises in Etten-Leur while the police were raiding it. According to the police, they were obviously there to buy some drugs. Officers found 21 thousand euros on their persons when frisking them. The money was confiscated and the men were also arrested. The police confiscated a large amount of goods, including money, banknote counters, firearms, vehicles, cannabis-related goods, cannabis and a small amount of hashish. The Dutch tax authorities confiscated a vehicle because of an outstanding tax debt. The police also seized a capital villa which is believed to have been funded with laundered money. The Spanish authorities seized an apartment and a Bentley. "I am pleased with the results of this carefully prepared and well-executed, integral action." said Roosendal mayor Jacques Niederer. "This actions shows that the different government partners make a stand against the subversive crime in our region. An organized government against organized crime."