National Threat Assessment 2008. Organised Crime - Politie

mortgage. Various types of fraud are committed, including benefit fraud, identity
fraud, tax evasion and mortgage fraud. The financial sector sometimes appears to
be involved, as a result of which the criminal origins of the money are erased by
means of complex financial structures. Criminal circles and legitimate society are
highly intertwined. Due to the fact that cannabis cultivation involves hundreds of
millions of euros – it is not called ‘Green Gold’ for nothing – there is considerable
financial damage as a result. Furthermore, cannabis cultivation often involves
energy theft and damage to houses. The extent of this damage to property
cannot be precisely determined, but it is clear that large sums are involved.
Influencing of criminal investigations
Professional criminal organisations have the resources (financial and otherwise)
to protect themselves effectively from the police and the judicial authorities.
The presence of nurseries is masked in various ways, for example, by installing
containers underground. Obnoxious smells and noise pollution can be prevented
by using filters or double walls. The scale of the activities is greater than before,
as are the financial interests and the level of professionalism. Greater use is
made of service providers, such as document forgers, transporters, estate
agents, money exchangers and financial advisors, who provide their services in
a professional manner. Legitimate Society therefore becomes intertwined with
criminal circles, which makes criminal investigations and prosecutions difficult.
Criminals also use front men and straw men, so that they themselves remain out
of reach in the event that a nursery is dismantled. The increase in major and new
players in the cannabis sector has also led to increased rivalry and, as a result,
increased horizontal violence.
Damaged reputation
The Netherlands is seen as a drugs country: the source of ecstasy and
Nederweed. Due to the tolerance policy of the past 30 years, the Netherlands
has a special position within the European Union. This policy is subject to its
share of criticism from abroad on a political and administrative level. In recent
years the Netherlands has improved its reputation through a variety of measures,
such as tackling cannabis cultivation more severely and the 100% inspections of
body packers at Schiphol Airport on high-risk flights from South America.
2.5.6 Crime-related factors and expectations
Policy
For many years the Netherlands has had a policy on soft drugs that is unique
throughout the world. Even though this policy has become more restrictive in
recent years – partly due to pressure from abroad – it still stands out due to the
64 National Threat Assessment 2008 – Organised crime