This is reported by the police on their website. The police investigated how criminals relatively easily purchase, convert and transport firearms to our country and are concerned about the simplicity of purchasing and transiting firearms. That investigation showed that many firearms used in the Netherlands and other European countries in violent incidents come from Eastern Europe. The weapons are purchased in these countries, brought to the Netherlands and converted, and then sold on to the criminal circuit.
Flobert firearms
In 2019, the police set up the Belpre project together with international partners. The aim of this project was to map out the criminal logistical process and the working methods surrounding firearms, as well as possibilities to frustrate this process. The project focused on Slovakia, where the purchase of certain firearms by private individuals without a permit was allowed at the time. This concerns, for example, so-called Flobert firearms (with a small caliber) and gas and alarm pistols.
The possession and sale of these weapons without a license is strictly prohibited in the Netherlands. Clear guidelines have been drawn up in a European context to curb the trade in and possession of firearms. For example, by making Flobert weapons subject to a permit. Slovakia will amend the firearms legislation as of February 2022 so that Flobert firearms can no longer be purchased without a permit. However, these guidelines are not yet applied in all European countries. This means that criminal firearms dealers can easily buy weapons.
Liquidations in the Netherlands
Thanks to the free movement of persons and goods within the European Union and good connections, the chance of being caught during the transport of weapons is small. “That makes it attractive and easy for firearms dealers,” says Andy Kraag, head of the National Criminal Investigation Service. “They can buy and transport weapons without a rooster crowing. These weapons are then used in liquidations in the Netherlands and terrorist attacks in Europe. For example, converted weapons were found in the investigation into the torture containers, the liquidation of Peter R. de Vries and the attack on the Bataclan in France. And that makes it an urgent problem that we need to tackle at the source.”
The police argue for the rapid implementation and enforcement of European directives on the possession and sale of firearms. Last year, the police launched more than 200 investigations into illegal firearms trafficking and every year we seize many thousands of illegal firearms. But it would greatly help us and society if it were made more difficult for firearms dealers to purchase, convert and transport weapons,” says De Zwart. “If that happens, we will tackle the problem at the front and we can really take a stand against excessive violence, such as assassinations.”