Investigations by Dutch broadcaster RTL Nieuws and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) have revealed a concerning link between German retailers and the illegal firework trade fueling dangerous incidents in the Netherlands. Dutch criminals are reportedly exploiting less stringent German regulations, varying jurisdictional responsibilities and a lack of information sharing between authorities to acquire heavy-duty fireworks, which are increasingly being repurposed for bombings and ATM robberies.
While the sale and purchase of these powerful fireworks requires permits in Germany, loopholes remain, allowing individuals with prior convictions – some of whom are known to Dutch law enforcement – to operate. RTL Nieuws and FAZ identified at least seven such retailers in the border region.
“We have information indicating that the legal and illegal firework trade are operating hand in hand” stated Tolga Koklu, Rotterdam’s police chief responsible for explosives attacks. He urged German authorities to enhance cooperation across Europe and mobilize all resources to prevent the scale of explosions seen in the Netherlands, where over 1,100 explosives-related incidents occurred last year, with sometimes fatal consequences.
The trend extends beyond the Netherlands. Primarily Dutch perpetrators have also been utilizing fireworks-derived explosives in ATM robberies within Germany and such devices were deployed in a series of attacks targeting criminal networks in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2024.
Acknowledging the severity of the situation, the German police have prioritized the issue. “The solid explosives used pose massive dangers that can result in significant damage to property and personal injury. Therefore, the matter is given a high priority” affirmed Thorsten Massinger, President of the Lower Saxony State Criminal Office. However, generating effective investigative leads has proven difficult.
The current legal framework presents significant hurdles for German police and prosecutors, often making it challenging to establish sufficient initial suspicion to initiate formal investigations. Covert operations, such as telephone wiretaps, are currently unavailable in the fight against illegal firework trading. A legislative amendment, approved by the German government in early July, aims to address this issue.
However, investigators have voiced concerns that the proposed changes are insufficient. One prosecutor involved in the investigation described the current approach as “turning screws here and there” arguing that a comprehensive reassessment is needed to recognize the system’s fundamental shortcomings.