Dutch police arrested a 30-year-old man from France for transporting two coffins in a van containing €13 million worth of cocaine.
The Dutch National Police Expertise and Operations Unit confirmed its officers had detained a 30-year-old man from France in Rotterdam on Friday evening.
"He was driving a van with French registration plates on the A29 near Numandsdorp [south of Rotterdam] and showed suspicious (driving) behaviour," the police unit wrote on social media. "We then stopped the driver and asked for an explanation."
The Frenchman claimed the coffins contained two bodies but could not produce the proper documentation.
Gisteravond hielden we een 30-jarige man uit Frankrijk aan in Rotterdam. Hij reed in een busje met Frans kenteken op de A29 t.h.v. Numandsdorp en vertoonde verdacht (rij)gedrag. Daarop hielden wij de bestuurder staande en vroegen om uitleg. pic.twitter.com/T48OSJYeDM
— Politie Eenheid Landelijke Expertise en Operaties (@Pol_Exp_Ope) December 14, 2024
As a result, the officers accompanied the man to a nearby funeral home for verification. Upon opening the coffins, however, no bodies were found. "The officers found sports bags containing more than 250 kg of coke in the two coffins, with a street value of €13 million.
The suspect was reportedly travelling from France to the Netherlands but was unaware of the final destination. He was supposed to receive further instructions en route.
The man remains in custody, and the drugs have been destroyed.
