The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has demanded 4 years in prison against a 33-year-old man suspected of smuggling 47 foreigners. He tried to ferry the people to England in his truck.
Sniffer dog
On the evening of Tuesday, December 5, 2023, the Royal Military Police in Hoek van Holland checked the suspect’s truck at the border crossing point for the ferry to England. The sniffer dog responded during the inspection. When the inside of the trailer was checked, 47 people were found, including men, women and children. They came from Iraq, Vietnam, Turkey and Albania, among others, and were hidden among vintage cars.
The fact that the tarpaulin of the truck had not been cut and that it had been closed with hooks indicates that the foreigners were admitted from outside, the Public Prosecution Service stated. The driver was therefore suspected of human smuggling. He also confessed during the police interrogation. He would receive 45,000 euros in reward for this.
Illegal
“Human smuggling is a reprehensible crime,” the public prosecutor said during the hearing. ‘It disrupts government policy regarding combating illegal residence in and illegal entry into the Netherlands and other European countries. In addition, it contributes to the maintenance of an illegal circuit.’
The officer also discussed the vulnerable position of the illegal aliens: ‘These people were in danger. Danger of being injured by the load in the trailer, danger of becoming hypothermic and perhaps even feeling unwell. They could not leave the very cramped space they were in without outside help.’
Chaos
According to the officer, a stiff prison sentence is the only appropriate punishment. ‘Especially at this time, when human smugglers eagerly take advantage of the chaos surrounding the refugee problem and enormous amounts of money are earned from people who are fleeing, it is important that high penalties are imposed from a prevention perspective.’
