Dutch Police Arrest Man for Laundering Money Found in His Washer

Published: 23 November 2018

350000-wasmachine

Source: Dutch police

By Lydia Osborne

Dutch police detained a man on suspicion of money laundering after finding 350,000 euros (US$400,000) hidden inside, well, his washing machine.

Police said in a statement Thursday that officers stumbled upon the six-figure load while checking a house in western Amsterdam for unregistered residents on Monday.

The 24-year-old suspect was in the home at the time of the search.

A photo released by police shows the bundles of dirty bills — mainly 20- and 50-euro notes — packed into the laundry machine drum.

Officers also confiscated a money-counting machine, a gun, and several cell phones.

Police searched the house on the Oeverpad in Amsterdam Nieuw-West as part of a “ghost campaign” focused on unregistered people living in the city.

Properties are selected for ghost inspections based on signs of vacancy, crime, or strange habitation.