Due to large-scale cocaine smuggling, the premises of Van Wanrooy Transport in Oosterhout must close its doors for a year. This is the proposed decision of the Oosterhout municipality. "This affects the survival of the company and also one hundred families," says managing director Mario Heeren.
Last summer, the owner of Van Wanrooy Transport was arrested for involvement in cocaine smuggling. 3,500 kilograms of the drugs were intercepted in the port of Antwerp. The destination: Van Wanrooy Transport in Oosterhout. In addition to the owner, several employees of the company were arrested.
The Damocles policy allows mayors to close buildings in the event of a drug discovery. This is what the municipality now wants to do at the shed on Koopvaardijweg 7. This is a proposed decision, on which the mayor has yet to make a final decision.
Director Heeren calls the decision "disastrous" for the company. "I hope there will be a wise decision," he told BN de Stem. "Because we as a company are very much affected and we have neither part nor parcel of this. The municipality wants to remove the run from the premises, but the run was never there. This is different from a shed where a hemp nursery is affected. The company has nothing to do with it."
Due to image damage, Van Wayrooy Transport is already struggling at the moment, the director said. "Very annoying, we have to fight very hard. This reflects on the company. Fortunately, customers have expressed confidence in us; we can't do anything about it."
Unknown is when the municipality will take a final decision on the closure of the shed.
