On December 29, 2021, the Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD) of the Netherlands arrested a 58-year-old from the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol on suspicion of money laundering. The detainee had hidden 155,000 euros ($176,937) in his checked luggage and over 8,000 euros ($9,132) in his hand luggage. He was also carrying two luxury watches, jewelry, eight mobile phones, and a fake passport and ID card.
The detainee was about to take a flight to Suriname when a Customs sniffer dog caught him during a regular baggage check. Further checks revealed all the cash he was carrying, after which the Customs department transferred the case to the FIOD. The man was unable to provide a reason for carrying the large amount of cash. As such, the authorities arrested him on suspicion of money laundering and for failing to declare to Customs the transport of the large sum of money.
The FIOD further carried out a search at the detainee’s home, seizing a car, expensive branded clothing, data carriers and administration.
Source: Fiscal Information and Investigation Service, Netherlands