Police seized 20 tonnes of illegal fireworks from a former munitions bunker in Reken, Nordrhein-Westfalen, and arrested six suspects. Investigators also found additional storage with fireworks in Gildehaus, a district of Bad Bentheim. Across the locations, police seized 20 tonnes of illegal fireworks and a further 1.8 tonnes of fireworks. In March, a German-Dutch investigative team carried out a crackdown on firework smuggling in Reken. The team discovered the shipment in the bunker and said the fireworks were intended for sale in the Netherlands. Further searches followed. In a flat and four more storage locations in Gildehaus and Reken, police uncovered more fireworks. Dutch restrictions on heavy fireworks and a private ban coming into force from 2026/2027 are said to have contributed to smuggling routes for heavy fireworks into the Netherlands. Dutch police said six men were arrested in the Netherlands, including two main suspects. One is a 65-year-old man from Gildehaus and the other is a 56-year-old man from Hengelo. The other arrested men are aged between 28 and 46. The two main suspects are to be presented to an investigating judge. Dutch police said the illegal trade in heavy fireworks is part of organised crime, and that the explosives could cause serious injuries and damage, including beyond New Year use.