The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has demanded 12 years in prison against customs officer Hassan O. for the import of cocaine into the port of Rotterdam. A 1,516-pound load was eventually intercepted, but the prosecutor argued that this only seems “the tip of the iceberg.”
The employee had already designated a container as ‘inspected’ on 13 February 2019, even before the ship was docked.
“Thus, the suspect was able to pass containers that he knew contained narcotics without actual control. This allowed others to retrieve this container of cocaine without hindrance,” said the OM. However, a team of agents was already at the port after a report of suspicious actions in the computer systems.
Investigations into the suspect’s encrypted phone reveal the image that the man has more often passed through charges on purpose. “The container eventually intercepted appears to have been the tip of the iceberg,” said the prosecutor.
Because the man has been appointed to secure the borders, the Public Prosecution Service believes that he has betrayed confidence. “A long prison sentence of twelve years is therefore justified.”
In recent years, the port of Rotterdam has had to deal with corrupt customs officers more often. One of the best known cases is that of customs officer Gerrit G., who recently received another fourteen years in prison on appeal.
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