SITTARD - Social investigators arrested five women and two men, all belonging to the same family, in a raid on three homes in Sittard yesterday morning.
They are suspected of large-scale aid fraud, among other things. Together, they allegedly received several tons of aid unduly. During the raids, in two homes on the Jozef Israëlstraat and one on the Tudderenderweg in Sittard, tons of valuables were seized, according to the police. For example, the family was deprived of expensive clothing,jewelry, furniture and three cars. In addition to the valuables, four large bags filled with hemp, a firearm and ammunition were also found and confiscated. A firearm with ammunition was also found in the other premises.

The large-scale operation involved a total of 75 men from social investigation, police and (tax) officials. The five women, aged 25, 26, 27, 28 and 50 and the two men aged 57 and 29, respectively, were arrested and are being held at the police station.