Dutch police arrested a Rotterdam couple accused of laundering criminal cash through a Surinamese takeaway and travel office.
Dutch authorities have arrested a Rotterdam couple accused of laundering criminal proceeds through a Surinamese takeaway business and a travel agency in Amsterdam as part of an investigation into organised financial crime.
The arrests were carried out on May 19, 2026, by the National Investigation Unit under the supervision of the Dutch National Public Prosecutor’s Office. Investigators identified the suspects as a 51-year-old man and his 42-year-old partner, who jointly operated a Surinamese food business in Rotterdam. Authorities have not publicly released their names.
According to police, investigators suspect the business was being used to exchange cryptocurrency for cash as part of a larger underground banking and money laundering operation tied to organised crime networks. Authorities allege large amounts of cash were discreetly handed to clients in takeaway bags from the Surinamese shop to avoid attracting attention. A money-counting machine was reportedly discovered in the kitchen during the searches.
Police carried out raids at four locations in Rotterdam, including the restaurant, the couple’s home, a storage unit, and the residence of the male suspect’s father. Investigators seized mobile phones, a laptop, and approximately €13,000 in cash during the Rotterdam searches.
A separate search conducted on May 21 at a travel agency in Amsterdam led to the seizure of more than €12,000 in cash, company administration records, and additional mobile devices. Authorities did not confirm whether the Rotterdam suspects also owned the Amsterdam travel office.
Dutch police said the investigation is examining whether the suspects were involved in “underground banking,” an illegal financial system commonly used by organised crime groups to move money internationally without traditional bank transfers. Authorities stated such systems are frequently linked to narcotics trafficking and other criminal enterprises.
Investigators said underground banking networks often allow payments to be made anywhere in the world without physical cash crossing borders, making them attractive to organised crime groups seeking to conceal illicit profits and bypass financial oversight.
The male suspect remains in custody and was scheduled to appear before an examining magistrate on May 22, while the woman was released pending further investigation but remains a suspect in the case. Authorities confirmed the money laundering investigation remains ongoing.
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