Gang cokedealers of the canals is fixed – The Guardian

The police has a group of suspected drug traffickers in coils that may be for ten years, was active in Amsterdam. Cocaine would be with the bike are delivered to mostly wealthy clients in the town.

From mid-August to see Amsterdam detectives an operation that every day, according to the same pattern expires. Around 15.00 hours the store is open’. Then pick up multiple couriers, a stock of cocaine in a building in Amsterdam-Noord and make the crossing over the river IJ.

There, waiting for the clientele of hundreds of hard users. That are not exactly penniless addicts, the criminal investigation department. From stately canal houses are called, often with the office phone.

Recherchechef Jan, who is leading the investigation, tells how the police could listen in: “Within a few months we recorded almost 24,000 ‘contact moments’. Per transaction, though there were more of those moments, but on busy days racing them through the city.”

Rules
The favourite means of transport of the courier: a bike, of which there are in the city a lot and that is popular among tourists. The defendants adhere nicely to the rules of the road, if it becomes apparent during observations of the police.

All customers know exactly how the ‘werktelefoons’ of the dealers, an order must be passed, which is agreed and how much is paid. New customers by the group are very carefully met and only after a number of controletelefoontjes operated, and new couriers only after a period of training to get started.

Teamchef Jan: “They put together out how it works and they will arrange customers for each other. If someone isn’t doing well, get ie to hear that.”
The police are going to assume that on these way more than ten years has dealt, under the guidance of a 46-year-old Amsterdammer. He would be the couriers on commissiebasis have paid.

Safes with money and cocaine
Until two weeks ago. When the police raided in coordinated actions within in buildings in the North of Amsterdam, Diemen and Horn. Moreover, in vaults of cash and a few hundred grams of cocaine were found.

the raids are eight people arrested, among whom were several couriers who, during a transaction with buyers were arrested. They were in the possession of a large number of wraps of cocaine.

Because a number of the defendants, until recently, in constraint sat, which means that they are alone with their attorney’s contact might have, did not speak, the police and the TO to date on the action. Four suspects remain fixed.

According to lawyer Geert-Iem Roos, that four defendants in the case to assist turn on the police team of people under pressure who, as former customers of the group are seen.

“It would be to nearly a thousand customers. That in a manner of speaking, dentists, judges and journalists. Those people scare them enormously if all of a sudden calls the police. They go into panic things explain, while it is not necessary. With those statements to try police and justice of collecting evidence about the size of the trade. My advice to customers is to first talk with a lawyer to make a call.”