Dutch police have arrested 12 suspects after successful stings related to illegal gambling. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Investigators recover money and weapons
Dutch police have arrested 12 people after raids in four different regions of the country.
Allegations of illegal gambling, drug trafficking and money laundering
Investigations in Soesterberg, Zeist, Vinkeveen and Rotterdam related to alleged illegal gambling, drug trafficking and money laundering led to the stings, which occurred on Wednesday and Thursday. Investigators recovered cash, drugs, firearms, and management during the operations.
Dutch police were initially alerted to “nuisance and deviant activity”, including nightly visits to car shops in Suesterberg.
Dutch police carry out successful raids
Reports reached investigators due to suspicious details such as limited operations at the property, the lavish lifestyles of visitors, and a horde of security cameras surrounding the agent.
Rob Metz, mayor of Soest in Providence Utrecht, said:
Only together can we take a stand against this kind of crime.”
“This action was taken in part in response to reports from residents,” Metz said. Community assistance is indispensable in the fight against vandalism. Only together can we take a stand against this kind of crime.”
The retail crime led to 12 arrests, including two that investigators say are the prime suspects in an illegal gambling ring. These two high-priority Zest people, ages 29 and 57, have a large number of charges against them.
The Netherlands is not the only country battling illegal gambling; Italy has arrested several illegal gambling operators, and recently shut down a mafia-run gambling ring.
Moreover, the Netherlands faces internal pressure to quell the spread of the negative effects of gambling. These discussions led lawmakers to disagreements over how to publish and regulate television advertisements.
Other repercussions of the arrests
After the two leaders of the operation were arrested, Dutch police can now charge them with drug smuggling, money laundering and hosting illegal gambling meetings. The police also found a poker table and other gaming accessories at the agency, which strengthened the evidence against the criminals.
Additional home searches in Zeist and Rotterdam revealed cash, firearms, drugs and 13 vehicles.
The police during the investigation were assisted by Kansspelautoriteit (Saudi Arabia), or the Ministry of Defense and the Dutch Games Authority. The authorities asserted that officials in Saudi Arabia assisted the police in determining that illegal gambling was taking place.
