Defence equipment freely available on open market

Drug dealing, misuse of power and theft are the order of the day at the Defence Ordance Organisation (DMO), according to defence ministry documents published in the Volkskrant.


DMO headquarters at the Frederik barracks in The Hague, which employs 6,000 people, operates like an ‘open shop’, according to the documents.
Illegal wares such as cigarettes, amphetamines and viagra and defence equipment such as laptops, telephones and car parts are for sale and service cars and other army vehicles are regularly used for private activities, the paper claims.
A previous report covering 2008 and 2009 had already pointed out the shortcomings at the DMO and led to a confrontation in parliament when it leaked out in late 2010. Defence minister Hans Hillen refused to publish that report.
According to Hillen, all the problems had been dealt with. Now insiders say this is far from the case.

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