Nearly 4 million euros seized in Aruba money laundering scheme

THE HAGUE/ORANJESTAD--Authorities in Aruba, the Netherlands and Belgium seized close to four million euros this week in a large money laundering investigation. Several suspects were arrested in Aruba and the Netherlands.
 
Part of the money was hidden in meat packages destined for the Aruba market.
 
The Kingdom Detective Cooperation Team RST confiscated 2.8 million on Wednesday evening. The money was hidden in chicken meat stored in a refrigerated container in Aruba. Three suspects R.H., R.G. and H. van R. were arrested in Aruba on Tuesday.
 
More than 1.1 million euros was found during several searches in residencies and business establishments in Aruba, the Netherlands and Belgium on Tuesday. In Aruba more than 440,000 euros in cash was seized, while in the Netherlands and Belgium 700,000 euros was confiscated. In total, the amount that was confiscated was more than 3.9 million in various currencies.
 
In Aruba, four homes and four business establishments were searched. Besides the cash, three Rolex watches, three expensive cars, including two of the Mercedes brand, and two motorcycles were confiscated.
 
In a simultaneous action three homes and business establishments were searched in Roermond, the Netherlands, a home in Lanklaar Stokkem in Belgium and a business establishment in Bree, also in Belgium. Aside from cash, authorities also seized a business administration and two computers in the Netherlands and Belgium.
 
The three suspects are believed to have been involved in a scheme to launder money of a criminal source. They are thought to have taken, managed, changed and hidden the money. It is suspected that the meat processing plant of the suspect Van R. was used to transport the money from the Netherlands to Aruba.
 
Van R. will be brought to the Netherlands early next week on the order of the Judge of Instruction where his case will be heard. The other two suspects will remain locked up in Aruba pending the trial.
 
An investigation started on April 13 on the request of the Aruba Public Prosecutor's Office, the National Public Prosecutor's Office in the Netherlands and the Dutch police. The probe was the result of a parallel investigation in Aruba into money laundering.
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