Dutch law enforcement recently searched 13 properties in Rotterdam, Barendrecht and The Hague after a collaborative investigation by the police, the Public Prosecution Service, the Tax Authorities and the City of Rotterdam. The authorities were investigating real estate crime involving illegal and anonymous property rentals to criminals.
Criminals often misuse real estate to store narcotics, arms and the proceeds of their crimes. This endangers the residential premises and creates problems for the landlord. Such criminals tend to have a ghost occupation and reside in the property without registering in the Personal Records Database. Moreover, owners often rent out their properties through rental agents, unaware of the criminal clientele of these agents. Malicious rental agents are willing to accept cash, not maintain complete records, avoid registration in the BRP and guarantee anonymity to conceal the criminals’ identities from the authorities.
The investigation began when the Municipality of Rotterdam and the Financial Intelligence Unit informed of abuse in the buildings. Of the 13 buildings that the authorities searched, 10 were residential and 3 were commercial. The five suspects were arrested on suspicion of money laundering and forgery. Authorities have seized over 55,000 euros (USD 66,710), 6 PGP telephones, 2 money counting machines, false identity papers, some narcotics, raw materials to produce drugs, counterfeit designer clothes and two vehicles. Moreover, the authorities found that 7 of the ten homes searched had incorrect BRP registrations.