Raids on the homes and other properties used by members of motorbike gangs in the south of the country netted five rocket launchers, the public prosecution department told a news conference on Wednesday.

In total 20 people, 19 men and one woman, were arrested in a cross border campaign to tackle motorbike gang crime.

Some 400 police and other officials in Limburg, Belgium and Germany carried out raids on 30 locations, looking for weapons and drugs. Police also seized a number of automatic weapons, forged money, guns, firework ‘bombs’, an ecstasy laboratory and marijuana plantation.

Among those taken from their homes in the early hours of the morning were the leader and deputy leader of the Limburg branch of biker gang Bandidos.

There have been several incidents of gang-related violence since the Bandidos settled in Limburg in 2014, Nos says. All 20 people arrested, many of whom have lengthy criminal records, will appear in court on Friday, the public prosecutor said.

Justice minister Ard van der Steur visited the region last weekend and said he was looking into the legal option of banning motorbike gangs altogether.