WILLEMSTAD - Together with partners, the police have started tackling subversive crime in the car industry. Last week a visit was paid to a car scrap yard and two companies that trade in used cars and car parts.
It concerned car companies on the Santa Rosaweg, the Pater Eeuwensweg and in the Kanga area. The action took place under the flag of the Action Center Undermining Curaçao (ACOC), a collaboration between (government) partners involved in tackling subversive crime.
Participating partners were the Ministry of Economic Development, the Tax Accountants Bureau Foundation, Customs, the Ministry of Social Development, Labor and Welfare, Social Insurance Bank, Financial Intelligence Unit Curaçao and the Police.
Vulnerability
The ACOC has chosen the automotive industry as one of the central themes on which cooperation takes place. According to the organization, this has to do with the vulnerability of this sector. Criminals can use the purchase of cars to launder money. But there are also other forms of vehicle crime, such as illegal car trade, car theft, the fencing of stolen cars and chassis numbers.
The ACOC will visit more companies in the automotive industry in the coming period. These checks will also be aimed at increasing awareness about the dangers and risks that arise when working with criminals. Information will also be provided on recognizing signals of illegal acts.
According to the Public Prosecution Service, undermining is a difficult subject because it is often not visible. Citizens and companies must be made aware of this in order to prevent - consciously or unconsciously - participating in criminal practices, according to the Public Prosecution Service.