Italian mafia active at Aalsmeer flower auction for years

Emerging reports indicate that dozens of flower traders and transporters at the Aalsmeer flower auction have in a good number of occasions in the recent years fell victim of the southern Italian mafia. According to an Italian newspaper, these alleged acts have cost damages running to tens of millions in Euros. So far 48 arrests have been made. 

Members of the notorious Calabrian organised crime syndicate 'Ndrangheta' wanted to kill a man who worked at the flower auction. Among the 48 arrested individuals were three brothers from Aalsmeer. The 3 are said to have allegedly been exporting drugs among the flowers. During the concequent raids police found 17 kilos of cocaine.

Back in March police and FIOD conducted searches at 3 flower companies in Aalsmeer and six houses in Amsterdam, Aalsmeer, Kudelstaart and Rijsenhout.

Investigations showed that scammers from their flowers companies made large orders of flowers whose cost they never met. The criminals left their companies after receipt of deliveries failed. This in turn left flower vendors to deal with the damages totaling thousands of Euros. The suspects could also be charged in connection with a huge batch of pallets disguised as boxes of chocolate.

An interagency effort between the Dutch and Italian police and judicial authorities in the region of Reggio, Calabria and Rome helped in the investigations and dozens of arrests.