NOS: Air Holland – kept alive by drugs money!

Translated from the NOS, the Dutch equivalent of the BBC News.

http://www.nos.nl/nieuws/artikelen/2004/11/30/topairhollandvastindrugszaak.html (Dutch only)
http://www.dft.nl/nieuws/7077581/Air_Holland_gefinancierd_met_drugsgeld.html (Dutch only)

Air Holland board arrested in drugs case.
Two former members of the board of directors of Air Holland have been arrested following suspicions that they invested drugs money in the airline. This was announced today by the Dutch ministry of justice. According to newspaper “De Telegraaf” (comparable to the UKs “The Sun” albeit somewhat more serious) one of the arrested persons is the former chairman of the board of directors, mr Cees van D.

Air Holland is believed to have been used by criminals to open up a drugs shuttle between the Dutch Antilles, Suriname and the Netherlands. Research from the national police have indicated that in 2001 and 2002 money had been laundered from the Netherlands via the UK and Luxemburg.

A total of 7 persons have been arrested on the suspicion of large scale importation of cocaine and money laundering of drugs money. For years the proceeds of the drugs trace where invested in the strugling Air Holland. Still, the company went bankrupt last April with a debt of 30 miljoen euros (+/- 20 million pounds).

The profits where also invested in real-estate, other companies, a printing press and various clubs and/or restaurants.

Arrests
The two main members of the board are considered as to be the financial brains behind the organisation. A 34 year old female from Bussum and a 52 year old man from Amersfoort are suspected from laundering the money. This money was the proceeds from importing cocaine. This cocaine was imported by two persons from Rotterdam (34 and 40) and a man from Portugal (32).

The police did searches in various houses and offices and impounded papers, a fire arm and 50.000 euros (+/- 35.000 pounds). Also some 600 kilos of cocaine have been impounded.

According to the police a 37 year old person from The Hague, that is currently in a Brazilian prison, was the main man of the organisation. The man was arrested september 11th in Brazil while in the posession of 50.000 XTC pills.

Planes.
The police do not think that the planes of Air Holland where actually used to move drugs to the Netherlands.

Air Holland was taken over by Holland EXEL a few months ago.

Although I have always wondered how it was possible for Air Holland to stay alive (even restart 2 or 3 times after bankruptcy), I never expected this to be one of the (main?) reasons!

I wonder if a similar arrangement has now been made with another airline? Recently Suriname Airways started flying long haul again to the Netherlands. Holland EXEL has taken over the destinations after Air Holland went bankrupt. Personally I have always considered them an odd bunch, considering how they have loads of name and seem to start a new name once every few weeks. Holland EXEL, DutchCaribbean EXEL, BonairEXEL, AlsaceEXEL, BelgiumEXEL…….

This will be very interesting to follow.