Organized criminals use force and intimidation to impose a "code of silence" on employees at Schiphol Airport in order to traffic illegal drugs, a joint report by the relevant authorities revealed on Wednesday.

According to the report, based on confidential files, interviews and observations; drug criminals routinely threaten the safety of airport staff at the largest airport in the Netherlands. As a result of inadequate safety measures, the researchers noted, criminals are able to breach secured areas to access aircrafts, baggage control areas and airfreight systems in order to fetch the trafficked drugs, which include quantities of cocaine, ecstasy and heroin.

Spearheaded by investigative agency Bureau Beke and commissioned by the Haarlemmermeer municipality, the report asserted that a "code of silence is enforced in the workplace, harshly if necessary, through bullying, intimidation and violence," adding that routine work at the airport "is a perfect cover for theft and especially drug smuggling".

Employees who hold access passes to secure areas of Schiphol are subjected to such intimidation after first being recruited into the criminal network, Bureau Beke states.

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https://nltimes.nl/2020/05/20/drug-criminals-hold-tight-grip-schiphol-staff-report