Once again, a business premises on the Pesetaweg in Nieuw-Vennep appears to have been the backdrop to an extensive criminal operation. The criminals used a fishmonger as a cover for their illegal activities. The mayor has decided that the building will be off limits for the next six months.
The building came into the picture after Interpol asked the Dutch police in September to keep an eye on a freight transport from Italy. Interpol suspected that the truck with Lithuanian license plates was smuggling PMK glycidic acid.
PMK
PMK glycidic acid is an important raw material for MDMA, which in turn is used for the production of ecstasy. Because it is not used for legal purposes, and always for the production of hard drugs, it is prohibited by law.
After the North Holland police had taken over the case, the detectives discovered in November that the cargo was returned to Hillegom from Nieuw-Vennep. It was then decided, in consultation with the Italian authorities, to intervene.
Ketamine and ecstasy
On November 18, 760 kilos of PMK were found in the building on Prins Bernhardstraat in Hillegom, as well as information that led to a fishmonger on Vennepse Pesetaweg. Earlier this year, on February 23, a raid was carried out there and another 150 kilos of PMK were found, but also 7,500 ecstasy pills and a lot of ketamine.
The 35-year-old owner of the fishmonger was then arrested, as were two Chinese illegally residing in the Netherlands. It later turned out that a pallet ‘with six bins’ had been delivered on behalf of the company at the time of the raid in Spain. It contained ‘white ice’, but also 35 kilos of weed.
Forbidden area
The mayor believes that there are sufficient indications of drug trafficking and has therefore decided to close the business premises close for six months. This is already allowed if more than five grams of hard drugs are found. The owner, a Purmerender, is still in custody.
Earlier this week, the FIOD announced that another Vennep building was also used by criminals. That building is also located on Pesetaweg, and would be a Chinese logistics service provider to the outside world. The FIOD raided there on April 21, during which cash, a weapon, drugs and cars with hidden spaces were found.
Bank building
The FIOD suspects that the building was used as a bank building for the underworld. Criminals were all over the place for them to ‘deposit’ or ‘withdraw’ money. Cash drug money was regularly brought from Nieuw-Vennep by road to Budapest, where it was deposited and transferred to accounts in China and Hong Kong.
It is not known whether there is a connection between the alleged criminal activities in the various business premises on Pesetaweg. However, the municipality writes that it has the matter under control.
“A large amount of drugs and raw materials was also found at another building in the vicinity. I intend to close that building as well,” said Mayor Marianne Schuurmans.