Seven men have been arrested over the alleged import and sale of thousands of kilos of illegal heavy fireworks in the Netherlands.
Police seized a total of 3,800 kilos of fireworks during the investigation.
According to police, the group is suspected of bringing illegal fireworks from Germany into the Netherlands and selling them. Dutch authorities worked with German police to track the transports.
At the end of August, police intercepted a shipment containing around 1,200 kilos of fireworks near Schaijk in North Brabant. A 22-year-old man from Oss was arrested.
Police made further seizures on Saturday after intercepting suspected fireworks transports near Arnhem, Heijen and Ulft.
During those operations, officers seized another 2,600 kilos of fireworks, €30,000 in cash and several data storage devices.
Seven suspects between the ages of 31 and 60 were arrested. They are from Oss, Raalte, Olst, Wesepe, Silvolde and Ruurlo. One suspect has no permanent address.
Three of the suspects remain in custody.
Police said the men mainly traded in F4 fireworks, which belong to the heaviest category of fireworks.
These types of fireworks were already illegal for consumers to possess, even before the wider fireworks ban.
