Rotterdam pair caught laundering cash from Surinamese takeaway, Amsterdam travel office

An investigation into money laundering at a Rotterdam eatery and an Amsterdam travel agency led to the arrests of two people and the seizure of thousands of euros in cash, police said on Friday. The duo were identified as a 51-year-old man and 42-year-old woman who are in a relationship, and together own the Rotterdam business, a shop that specializes in Surinamese meals.

Police alleged that cryptocurrency and other items could be exchanged for paper currency at the Rotterdam business. "To avoid attracting attention, the cash was presumably handed over in bags from the Surinamese shop," investigators said.

The arrests took place on Tuesday, with searches carried out at four properties in total. Two days later, police raided the undisclosed travel provider in Amsterdam, though it was not immediately disclosed if the couple also owned that business.

Some 13,000 euros in cash was seized when investigators searched the Rotterdam storefront, the couple's home, the home of the 51-year-old man's father, and a storage facility. Police also found a money counting machine at the Rotterdam business. Investigators took possession of mobile phones, and a laptop during the four searches.

Over 12,000 euros was seized at the travel agency in Amsterdam, police said. Mobile devices were also entered into evidence, as were company records.

The 51-year-old man was expected to be brought before an examining magistrate on Friday afternoon. He can be remanded into custody for up to 14 days before a formal arraignment at a district court hearing. "The woman has been released but remains a suspect in the investigation," police said.

While the case was formally a money laundering investigation, authorities will also determine if the couple took part in a type of financial organized crime known as "underground banking," where cash and cryptocurrency can change hands undetected. "This money originates primarily from drug trafficking and is used for investments in assets or criminal activities," police said.

"Through the network of underground bankers, a payment can take place anywhere in the world without the money having to physically cross a border," police wrote in a statement. "Underground bankers are part of a criminal organization and engage in money laundering activities."