These are employees in positions that are relatively often approached by drug smugglers, such as drivers. If someone has drug offenses on their criminal record, they will be denied access to the port area, the daily writes.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice and Security says in conversation with Fidelity that the pilot has just started. “We expect tens of thousands of employees to qualify.” The approach may eventually lead to employees having to apply for a new Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) every few months or years.
Employees of the port of Rotterdam are under pressure from the international drug trade. Corrupt employees who facilitate drug smuggling are exposed with some regularity. They are sometimes forced to work for drug criminals.
The judiciary also arrests many so-called extortionists, who illegally enter the site to extract drugs from containers. In the first quarter of this year there were already many dozens of arrests.
The ministry says it is investigating whether employees with a “crucial position” should undergo additional screening. This would then be a special screening that the AIVD also uses for Schiphol employees.
