Three arrested in German-Dutch gold-smuggling investigation

German and Dutch investigators arrested three men on Wednesday, 7 October, in a cross-border investigation into suspected gold smuggling and money laundering. About 450 police and customs investigators took part in searches of roughly 40 homes and business premises, including sites in Cologne, Berlin and the Dutch province of Friesland. A search near Rotterdam took place at the same time, according to a joint statement by police and prosecutors. [1]

The three men were arrested under warrants as principal suspects in an investigation involving 24 people. The authorities said they were due to appear before investigating judges later that day. The investigation is continuing, and the suspects are presumed innocent. [1]

Officers reported seizing about 800g of melted gold, cash in the high five figures of euros, 12 vehicles, a motorbike, documents and digital storage devices. The authorities also announced asset-recovery measures involving eight of the vehicles and a €2m compulsory security mortgage. The mortgage is not cash seized in the searches. [1]

Investigators estimate that more than one tonne and up to four tonnes of gold, worth approximately €55m to €210m, was transported to Turkey over six years. That is an estimate of past movements, not the amount recovered on Wednesday. They suspect the group used proceeds from crime, predominantly drug trafficking, to buy scrap gold, melt it into bars and send it to Turkey by road and air. Some processed gold or jewellery was allegedly brought back to Germany in breach of customs rules. [1]

The authorities trace the investigation to a 2023 roadside discovery of more than 55kg of gold and nearly €500,000 hidden in a modified vehicle. They say gold and cash worth more than €4m were later definitively confiscated in that separate case. More than 5kg of gold jewellery was also seized in Cologne in February 2026. [1]