At several locations in Limburg, some 70 employees of various investigation services are busy with searches on Thursday. This is part of an investigation into large-scale organized hemp cultivation.

The international operation is being done in cooperation with police in Spain.

Spain

The searches are taking place in Beek, Stein, Oirsbeek, Obbicht, Sittard, Geleen, Maastricht and Amsterdam. Across the border in Lanaken, police and judicial authorities are also conducting raids. Furthermore, premises are being searched in Spain at the request of the Netherlands.

Criminal investigation

With the action, the Justice Department hopes to obtain more information for the criminal investigation into the production and organized trafficking of hemp. Arrests have so far been made in the Netherlands, Spain and Belgium.

Police expect to provide more information about the arrests and proceeds by late Thursday afternoon.