Director of Zeeland port firm blames other two directors for cocaine trafficking

One of the directors of transshipment company Bulk Terminal Zeeland (BTZ), who is accused of drug trafficking, is pointing towards his two fellow directors and also fellow suspects. According to Jacco G., he knew nothing about the years of extensive drug trafficking that had happened via the harbor in Vlissingen. He said his brother Rene G. and colleague Ko de K. were allegedly the culprits on Thursday in the court in Breda where the first preparatory session took place.

The three men from Zeeland are suspected of importing cocaine from South America, forgery, and being involved in a criminal organization. The drugs were hidden in shiploads from Brazil that contained soybeans, scrap, sand, or coal.

Jacco G. (59), his brother René G. (56), and the 43-year-old De K. were arrested on May 6 after an operation by the police and the FIOD. According to Jacco, he had no idea what his fellow suspects were doing. "The million euros company and his life work have been destroyed," said his lawyer. "He is getting his punishment now when he has not even been convicted yet."

The public prosecution service has a different opinion. According to the prosecutor, Jacco knew about everything. He was in charge of the finances, and the other two maintained the criminal contacts. "Jacco had to be deliberately kept out of harm's way, with the aim that he could continue the company if the other two were caught."

The court sees sufficient serious objections to keep all three suspects in jail for now. The next hearing is on October 31. Even then, the case will not be dealt with in substance.

The police and the judiciary had been watching the company for years. The directors were wiretapped, and there was also said to have been a police infiltrator. BTZ was closed down for a year last month by the mayor of Vlissingen.