News item | 05-04-2024 | 15:41
The Public Prosecution Service demanded a 7-year prison sentence at the Amsterdam court on Friday against a 21-year-old man for international arms trafficking. According to the prosecutors of the national public prosecutor’s office, the trade was a revenue model for the man, characterized by a desire for status, money and criminal opportunities.
“Criminal (weapons) income helped the suspect to become independent of his parents, government, work and education. He lived in an expensive penthouse in Hilversum, ordered food every day and rented a Mercedes,” the Public Prosecution Service said.
“The suspect used willing or dependent young people and minors to help him in his criminal offenses: to collect, transport, secure weapons or to make payments via their bank account.” According to prosecutors, the main goal was to earn quick money from crime.
Completely
The suspect ordered slide groups, suitable for Glock brand handguns, in the United States. He ordered other weapon parts from this brand – cases and cartridge holders – from an Austrian arms dealer. These parts are sufficient to assemble a complete firearm. The suspect bought weapon parts for more than 200,000 euros in 2022 and 2023. The orders were collected by accomplices at various parcel points in the Netherlands.
Serious violence
The Public Prosecution Service accuses the man of having helped put these firearms into circulation through his professional trade. Firearms were found in six cases that could be linked to the man via a DNA match or serial number.
“Serious violence is therefore a byproduct of the illegal arms trade,” the officers told the court. “For example, the illegal arms trade returns with brutal violence in the public street and for (poorly) paid violent jobs. Weapons that are often used in criminal circles to commit serious criminal offenses, of which innocent bystanders regularly become victims. The effect of this is (potentially) devastating for society and poses an unacceptable risk to safety.”
Barn
The suspect could be arrested in 2023 during a new attempt to purchase parts for firearms. Firearm parts and ammunition were found by the police in his home. 118 weapon parts and 328 live cartridges were also found in a shed at a house in Aalsmeer.
According to the Public Prosecution Service, the suspect worked in a planned and organized manner. “His role in the trade was significant,” the officers said. “The suspect was a spider in the web.”
The court will make its ruling on April 19.
