German, Dutch seize 250 tonnes of heavy fireworks

Police seized some 250 tonnes of illegal heavy fireworks after raiding a bunker near the Dutch-German border, Europol said Tuesday, with the illicit pyrotechnics destined for annual New Year’s celebrations in the Netherlands.

The raid about 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) from the eastern Dutch city of Enschede across the German border followed a year-long probe into a Dutch criminal group trading in “dangerous, highly-explosive fireworks,” Europol said in a statement.

“The suspects involved in this illegal scheme attempted to circumvent the strict regulations for the sale of fireworks by hiding behind the facade of a legal company, registered for the sale of authorised fireworks,” the Hague-based law agency said.

“The suspects stored the heavy fireworks in unsecured locations, while illegally selling these extremely dangerous goods to the public – despite such fireworks being banned for open sale,” Europol added.

Two suspects were arrested in the Netherlands, but police did not give further details.

Fireworks are a major part of Dutch celebrations over New Year’s Eve when millions of euros are forked out on pyrotechnics and streets across the country resemble virtual battlefields.

However, dozens of people are injured and limbs are lost every year, mainly when illegal fireworks are set off. People are occasionally killed in the annual fireworks frenzy.

A 24-year-old Dutch man died on Saturday after powerful fireworks exploded in his face, while last year a 12-year-old boy was killed and another seriously injured while watching fireworks being set off.

The Netherlands in 2020 banned all heavy duty pyrotechnics and so far twelve municipalities including Amsterdam and Rotterdam have imposed a total ban on fireworks, although many say police struggle to enforce the rule.