Dutch news in brief, 11 April 2006

Police find 32,000 kilos of hash

A joint operation by police from Amsterdam, Kennemerland and Central and West Brabant has led to the seizure of 32,000 kilos (32 tonnes) of hash. The drugs have an estimated street value of EUR 100 million. Two criminal gangs were smashed and 11 people, aged 28 to 52, were arrested in the operation, the police said on Tuesday. Investigators believe at least three people have been murdered in the Netherlands by people associated with the suspects.

Amsterdam ‘against’ Schiphol privatisation

The new coalition of the Labour Party (PvdA) and green-left party GroenLinks in Amsterdam is against the partial privatisation of Schiphol Airport, according to Labour MP and Schiphol expert Adri Duivesteijn. The leaders of Amsterdam branches of both parties declined on Tuesday to respond to Duivesteijn, who has based his statement on ‘insiders’. Amsterdam owns a 21.8 percent stake in the airport.

Fire at asylum centre

A residential unit at the asylum-seekers centre in Drachten was destroyed by a fire on Tuesday. Dozens of people were in the building when the blaze started but all escaped unhurt. The Fire Brigade had the fire under control within two hours. The fire began in the kitchen and spread quickly through the wooden structure. The facility at Drachten is for people awaiting deportation. Single people, couples with children and unaccompanied juvenile asylum seekers are housed there.

Dead man in Amsterdam park

Police found the body of a man on a bench in Amsterdam’s Vondel park on Tuesday morning. The man has yet to be identified but police suspect he died as a result of a crime.

Subject: Dutch news