The Netherlands - Theft of 1,400 kilos of cocaine behind series of explosions, shootings: Prosecutor

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Theft of 1,400 kilos of cocaine behind series of explosions, shootings: Prosecutor​

The theft of 1,400 kilos of cocaine was allegedly the reason for a string of violent incidents in October, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) has reported. These incidents included explosions, shootings, arson, and threats in and around The Hague, Alphen aan den Rijn, and Leiden. A total of 30 suspects have been arrested for these crimes. Most were the perpetrators of the violence, but police were also able to arrest some of the middlemen.

The drugs were imported into Belgium on August 29. The shipment was then stolen there and divided in a warehouse in Oud Gastel. A part of the drugs were imported into a warehouse in Ter Aar at the beginning of October. It was then stolen again from there on the evening of October 10.

Both thefts led to a violent crime wave. The first incidents occurred in The Hague, Rijswijk, and Delft. Fires were started in the Chicagostraat in The Hague and the Herenstraat in Rijswijk.

An investigation showed that the residents in the areas were not involved in the crime world conflict, according to the OM. The people involved in the violence were mainly friends or family of the people involved in the theft in Belgium.

Violence in and around Alphen aan den Rijn and Leiden followed the second theft. There were shootings, explosions, and threats in Alphen aan den Rijn, Rijnsaterwoude, Leiden, and Valkenburg.

The owner of the warehouse in Ter Aar and one of his employees, relatives, or friends were victims of these attacks. Whether the owner of the warehouse knew that the drugs were being kept there is still under investigation.

Reporting by ANP