Justice ministry officials are investigating a number of firework firms from the south of the country suspected of involvement in a multi million euro firework-smuggling gang.

Officials have confiscated property, bank accounts and a large amount of cash following raids in Uden, Nistelrode, Berlicum and Venhorst, the public prosecution department said in a statement on Wednesday.
Four men aged 28 to 60 and a 58-year-old woman are suspected of leading the gang which officials claim has smuggled 1.6 million kgs of illegal fireworks – worth €4m – into the Netherlands via Germany and Belgium since 2004.
Some of the fireworks seized are so powerful they can only be set off by experts, the public prosecution department said.