The week of action, which took place from 5 to 8 June, involved various stakeholders, including the police, tax administration, customs, and even the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
In addition to inspecting hundreds of vehicles, the police visited 55 transport companies in order to gather information on criminal interference in the transport and logistics sector in the central Netherlands, to reduce such criminal activities and to increase the “self-cleaning capacity of the industry”, the police said.
While inspections were crucial, prevention also played an important role in the TFOC programme. During the week of action, the police held discussions with hundreds of entrepreneurs and drivers, emphasising the importance of prevention.
“The Netherlands is a global transport hub, which unfortunately makes it a target for illegal goods such as drugs and weapons,” the police press release reads.
In response, the government is working with the transport industry to combat and prevent organised crime in the sector. This joint effort falls under the Transport Facilitated Organised Crime (TFOC) programme, which is led by the National Police Unit.
A key focus of the TFOC approach is to strengthen the resilience of drivers, operators and other key industry stakeholders against criminal interference. By equipping them with the necessary tools and knowledge, the programme aims to protect the transport sector from criminal activity.