Four men suspected of involvement in the illegal trade in drugs and fireworks in the Northern Netherlands will remain in custody longer. The men from Friesland and Groningen are also suspected of money laundering.
Three out of four men remain in custody for 90 days longer and are 25, 30 and 52 years old. A 56-year-old man will remain in custody for another 30 days. The men come from Achtkarspelen, Stad-Groningen and Eemsdelta.
The four suspects are under restrictions. They are then only allowed to talk to their lawyer or someone from the judiciary.
The police raided a farm on Hoofdweg in Bovensmilde at the beginning of October. The raid was part of a major subversion investigation in the Northern Netherlands. Subversion is when the boundaries between the upper world and the underworld become blurred. These undermining investigations focus on organized crime in soft and hard drugs, fireworks trafficking and money laundering.
At least ten people were arrested during raids in Drenthe, Groningen and Friesland as a result of this investigation. The other suspects are no longer in custody, but remain suspects.
As a result of the undermining investigation, several searches were carried out in, among other things, company warehouses and homes. The police found various types of drugs, including cocaine and hemp, and approximately 2,000 kilos of fireworks. Vehicles and goods of value were also seized.