Dutch police have seized almost three tonnes of cocaine and millions of euros in cash on a rural property near Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.
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This is one of the biggest gains in drug operations in the Netherlands.
The operation was performed last Thursday after a lengthy investigation, but the public was only notified today.
During the operation, one suspect was detained on the property, and the other was later captured in a car near the property.
“The value of cocaine on the street is 195 million euros. It is one of the largest seizures in the history of Amsterdam police,” police said.
Police also confiscated 11.3 million euros in cash, as well as luxury goods, including expensive wines, an antique car and a book about boxing legend Muhammad Ali, valued at about 12,500 euros, the broadcaster NOS reported.
Six weapons, silencers, ammunition and counting machines were also confiscated.
The suspects, aged 54 and 29, have been detained and are facing charges of large-scale drug smuggling, police said.
Cocainemost likely came from South America and are likely to detain more, according to a police statement.
The Netherlands has become a major gateway for the flow of drugs, especially cocaine, to Europe, mainly through Rotterdam, Europe ‘s largest port.
The European police organization Europol warned in April that Europe was flooded with unprecedented amounts of cocaine, generating billions of euros in profits for criminals in Europe and South America.
Cocaine trafficking has contributed to the development of criminal enterprises, “which use their vast resources to infiltrate and undermine the EU economy, public authorities and society,” Europol said.
Police in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany seized 23 tonnes of cocaine destined for the Netherlands in February.
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