The German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) announced on Tuesday that as part of an investigation against an international gang of criminals suspected of bombing ATMs, nine house searches were carried out in Amsterdam, Helmond, and Utrecht in the morning.
Prior to Tuesday morning’s raids, extensive international investigations had been conducted.
The operation led to the arrest of five people in the Netherlands. They are accused of stealing more than €1 million and causing material damage totalling €2 million by blowing up 22 ATMs - including in Schuttrange and Trier.
The suspects are aged between 23 and 38 and are of Moroccan-Dutch nationality. They are charged with organised robbery and use of explosives. In Germany they face prison sentences of ten to 15 years.
The Federal Criminal Police Office, the public prosecutor’s office in Düsseldorf, and the Dutch authorities, among others, were involved in the search.
The five defendants were brought before a Dutch examining magistrate on Tuesday, who will also decide on possible extraditions. The searches were also aimed at securing property and seizing evidence such as clothing, smartphones, and storage media.
Investigations are ongoing, the authorities said.
