Eleven arrests in research into international arms trade: 65 firearms seized (Heusden-Zolder)

The FGP Limburg carried out twenty house searches in Heusden-Zolder, Beverlo (Beringen) and Genk on Friday afternoon. Together with the special units, other federal investigation services and the local police zones, they visited locations that are linked to the members of a large criminal network.

The organization consists of mostly young people with a Turkish background who would deal with arms trade on an international scale. They are suspected of being traders in handfather weapons and war weapons such as machine guns and grenade throwers. Eleven suspects were arrested.

Snapchat and Telegram

The trade, such as buying and sale, would have expired online. In addition, the suspects used the Online Applications Telegram and Snapchat. These are two apps that are popular as a means of communication within criminal networks.

The investigation is in the hands of the Properties department of FGP Limburg and is being conducted under the leadership of an investigating judge in Hasselt. A thorough and months of investigation preceded the raids of Friday afternoon. In this way the investigators gained a view of both the organizers, as well as their helpers and various customers. There would also be branches in various European countries.

Also drug lab and illegal cigarettes

During the Friday promotion, at least 65 firearms and a sum of cash were seized. In Beverlo, the police services also bumped into a lab for the production of synthetic drugs and a storage place for illegal cigarettes.

According to witnesses, there were searches in Heusden-Zolder on the pastor Paquaylaan, Koolmijnlaan (where a young man was arrested on the street), Halstraat, the Vlierhof in the Lindeman district and on Suska Berg.