The Netherlands fights organized crime with three other countries
The Netherlands will cooperate more intensively with Belgium, France and Spain to tackle organized crime. In a joint statement, ministers from the four countries say they are deeply concerned about the threat posed by serious and organized crime to society, to citizens' fundamental rights and to the functioning of the rule of law and the economy.

The four emphasize that the international drug trade is the largest criminal market. That is why they want to prevent and combat them together as much as possible.

One of the objectives is to jointly combat import and distribution and to increase resilience against corruption and criminal infiltration at sea ports, airports and postal services, for example.

They also want to work together to steal criminals' money. Technology and innovations should be used as much as possible in detection and control.

Important gateway
Outgoing Justice Minister Grapperhaus says in an explanation: "We must prevent that if we take measures in the port of Rotterdam to combat drug trafficking, which subsequently increases in Antwerp. Both ports are an important gateway to the European market."

Grapperhaus also wants the Dutch police to share information quickly with their Spanish or French colleagues, in order to jointly tackle international criminal groups and their assets in Europe and in Latin America and the Caribbean.