Higher prison sentences for suspects in the Alphen weapons store involved in the murder of Peter R. de Vries

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ALPHEN AAN DEN RIJN – In the extensive lawsuit surrounding a large weapons depot discovered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the court in Zwolle imposed prison sentences of up to ten years and two months on Tuesday. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) suspects that the weapon with which Peter R. de Vries was shot dead came from the same storage.

Investigation 26Woltz revolves around a secret weapons store in Alphen discovered in March 2022 and a ‘Polish mafia’ under construction in The Hague. During a search of a shed on Meidoornstraat in Alphen aan den Rijn, four rocket launchers, 45 automatic small arms, 4,825 bullet cartridges and a number of silencers were found a year and a half ago.

Also read: ‘Man behind murder of De Vries had to build Polish mafia from The Hague’

Higher penalties than the Public Prosecution Service’s sentence

According to the Public Prosecution Service, these weapons are intended to carry out liquidations. The Public Prosecution Service suspects that the weapon used to shoot journalist Peter R. de Vries also came from that stock. The storage contained pistols that were converted in the same way as the weapon with which Peter R. de Vries was killed in 2021.

Also read: Key to weapons store in Alphen aan den Rijn under paving stone

The court sentenced suspects Pascal L. (46) and Jeremy W. (30) to ten years and two months in prison. That is considerably higher than the eight years that the Public Prosecution Service had demanded.

“The stockpile of rocket launchers, automatic firearms and thousands of bullets was located in the middle of a residential area,” the judge said on Tuesday. “Given the quantity and type of weapons, the maximum possible sentence for this offense is the only appropriate one.”

Also read: Two Alphen residents involved in the murder of Peter R. de Vries: Public Prosecution Service demands eight years in prison

Ex-husband of sister Taghi

According to the court, the suspects contributed to organized crime. “None of them have taken responsibility or shown any remorse.” Four Poles were part of a group of men who carried out very violent jobs. According to the court, significant violence was not avoided. They communicated about those assignments in an ‘indifferent and sometimes rude manner’.

Some of them were sent to the ex-husband of Ridouan Taghi’s sister to shoot him in the hands and legs and batter him with a sledgehammer. However, the intended victim was never found. Pawel J. (29) and Robert M. (40), two other suspects in the extensive criminal case, received the highest sentences of six years, eight months and seven years in prison respectively.

Controlled

The Poles were allegedly brought to the Netherlands by Krystian M. for criminal jobs, the Public Prosecution Service previously stated. M. is one of the suspects in the trial surrounding the murder of Peter R. de Vries. He is said to have directed the perpetrators of the murder of Peter R. de Vries and to have arranged a firearm, getaway car and telephone.