The Public Prosecution Service is trying to recover a large portion of the millions in profits from a massive cocaine line between Curaçao and the eastern Netherlands.
The Public Prosecution Service is trying to recover a large portion of the millions in profits from a massive cocaine line between Curaçao and the eastern Netherlands. Three members of the criminal organization appeared in court in Zwolle on Tuesday in confiscation proceedings, according to the Algemeen Dagblad.
Limestone The alleged leader, a 52-year-old man from Hengelo who was sentenced to nine years in prison, wants other judges to review the case after receiving a false tip about an assassination attempt on one of the magistrates.
The criminal case revolves around a criminal organization that transported large shipments of cocaine from Curaçao to the Netherlands between 2020 and 2022. The drugs were hidden in shipping containers filled with limestone that were shipped via the port of Vlissingen to Enschede and Silvolde. The cocaine was then cut from the limestone in warehouses. In total, the goods were hundreds of kilos, with a street value of tens of millions of euros.
In 2023, the courts of Almelo and Zwolle convicted seven suspects from Twente, the Achterhoek region, and South Holland. According to the judges, C., a native of Hengelo, led the organization; he was sentenced to nine years in prison.
Deceased
According to the public prosecutor, half of the total proceeds went to C., a native of Hengelo, approximately 3.2 million euros. The Public Prosecution Service wants to recover this amount in full. The second ringleader, 58-year-old Z. from Delft, reportedly received 25 percent of the profits. He was sentenced to seven years in prison but died earlier this year in custody. His share – estimated at 1.6 million euros – is therefore not included in the current confiscation proceedings.
C. is suspected by the police of arranging the shooters for the attack on lawyer Philippe Schol. However, this suspicion did not lead to a criminal case.
False Tip
In November of that year, the police received an anonymous tip that C. had told a fellow inmate in prison that he wanted to have one of the judges killed. This report caused a huge shock.
The judge in question was temporarily placed under extra security, homes were searched, and C. was transferred to maximum security units. However, it later emerged that there was no evidence that the threat was genuine. The informant was allegedly a personal enemy of C. who wanted to harm him.
The Public Prosecution Service ultimately concluded that there was no suspect and closed the file. However, C. now wants other judges to hear his case and has challenged the court.
It is not yet known when the recusal chamber will issue a verdict. A decision in the three remaining confiscation cases will be made on December 30th.
Freedom
Three suspects are free pending their appeal: a 31-year-old man from Winterswijk and a 33-year-old man from Vlaardingen. They were each ordered to hand over €650,000, but both deny any remaining funds are available. The Winterswijk resident maintains his innocence; the Vlaardingen resident claims his income is legal.
The Public Prosecution Service is seeking €97,000 in restitution from 79-year-old S. from Megchelen. The cocaine was extracted from the limestone in his Silvold warehouse. He stated that he received €45,000 for his role.
