The story is about Dutch yachtsmen who have been duped by policies of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure allowing for organised crime, leading to tax evasion, money laundering, and drug trafficking. The story follows the problems faced by Dutch yachtsmen with the International Certificate Pleasure Craft (ICP), which is issued by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and intended to give pleasure craft access to European waters and ports. The certificate is not recognised by the Netherlands, leading to confusion and detention of yachtsmen in Italy. The story goes on to reveal how the ICP is used internationally to cover up theft, evade taxes, and even traffic drugs. The Dutch government is urged to firm up rules for ICP applications and take accountability.
1. The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure's policies opened the door for organized crime.
2. Dutch yachtsmen have been detained in Italy due to issues with the International Certificate Pleasure Craft (ICP) issued on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
3. The ICP is intended to give pleasure craft access to European waters and ports and is like a vehicle registration certificate.
4. The ICP is widely used by non-Dutch yacht owners, including those using it for criminal activities.
5. Yacht Registration Holland in Leeuwarden is a leading broker for the application of the ICP, and hundreds of ships are registered at one address.
6. The Watersportverbond issues around 6,000 ICPs a year, but it is unsure of who its clients are using them for.
7. The Dutch government is washing its hands of the ICP and the responsibility for the registration of craft under its certificate.
8. The MAOC, an international police agency in Lisbon combating drug trafficking, is very familiar with the ICP and regularly finds it on ships that traffic drugs.
9. The Ministry of I&W is firming up the rules for ICP applications following warnings from the police.
10. Peter Franssen spent half his sabbatical detained in Italy due to issues with the ICP and had to spend thousands of euros on new documents and his legal defense in Italy.