Schiphol officials bust money mules carrying €1.5m in June

The public prosecution department has released details of five arrests for money laundering made at Schiphol airport in June.

The biggest case involved a pilot for a Colombian airline who had €475,000 hidden in a secret compartment in his suitcase.

The cash was hidden in the specially-made section under his pilot’s uniform, the department said. He claims to have been transporting the suitcase for someone else. He is due to appear in court in October.

The suitcase haul is one of several cash finds made during five investigations into money laundering launched at Schiphol airport two months ago. In total, officials seized cash totaling nearly €1.5m.

Another case involved a Colombian mother and son who had swallowed condoms packed with almost €300,000. They are suspected of acting as mules for a third party and have both been remanded in custody.

Two women from Lithuania were also stopped with €475,000 hidden in shaving cream cans. They were en route to Ecuador. Both were released from custody and are due to appear in court next month.