Fourteen gang members with arms trade from the Oosterwolde cycle to court | Inland

The suspects come from Oosterwolde, Hoogeveen, Marum, Leeuwarden, Stadskanaal, Roosendaal and Groningen. One of them was a weapons expert at the Ministry of Defense. The Public Prosecution Service has demanded sentences ranging from two to six years against the group of co-defendants.

The Public Prosecution Service drew the evidence from, among other things, tapped conversations, observations and chats on Van der H’s telephone. The weapons found contained DNA from suspects. The police investigation started in September 2018. The first arrests were made in early 2020. The police raided various places in the north of the Netherlands. Weapons and drugs were found.

According to the OM, the group worked with encrypted messages and used obfuscated language in communication. A ‘piece of iron’ would indicate a weapon and ‘Kindersurprises’ would indicate hand grenades.

Justice also suspects Van der H. of human trafficking. He allegedly exploited gang members. This includes homeless people and a minor. A number of people, including Van der H., are also suspected of fraud, debt collection fraud and embezzlement.

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