Dutch news in brief – 13 July 2004

Schiphol duty-free staff held for drug smuggling

Staff of duty-free shops at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam have allegedly smuggled a large amount of drugs via personnel exits, leading to the arrest of four shop workers and five suspected drugs couriers. Customs officials and military police allege that South American smugglers carried the drugs in luggage and handed the cocaine to duty-free staff in the area “behind customs”. The smugglers did not pass through customs and passport control and allegedly re-boarded flights back to their country of origin. The duty-free staff are accused of taking the drugs vie employee exits into the Netherlands, Amsterdam newspaper Het Parool reported.

Philips profits top analyst expectations

Dutch electronics firm Philips booked a net profit of EUR 616 million in the second half of 2004, compared with a profit of EUR 42 million in the same period in 2003. The profit figure was about EUR 50 million higher than analysts expected. Sales amounted to EUR 7.280 million, an increase of 11 percent over the same period last year, while income from operations showed a profit of EUR 356 million compared with a loss of EUR 26 million in the same period in 2003. Company chief Gerard Kleisterlee said the figures indicated Philips was on the road to sustainable profit and growth and forecast further growth in the second half of this year, newspaper NRC Handelsblad reported.

Court rejects Fortuyn killer’s complaint

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has dismissed a complaint lodged against the Dutch State by Volkert van der Graaf, the convicted killer of Pim Fortuyn. Van der Graaf had complained to the court about the way he was treated during remand detention, in which he was confined in isolation and subject to permanent camera supervision. But the court said his complaint was “unfounded” and consequently will not be examined any further. Van der Graaf was jailed for 18 years on appeal in July 2003.

Transport helicopters head to Iraq

The Dutch Royal Air Force will dispatch three Cougar transport helicopters to Iraq this week. They will be attached to the Dutch helicopter squadron based at Tallil. There are presently about 2,700 Dutch peacekeeping troops in southern Iraq.

Subject: Dutch news