The Flemish authorities have arrested nine people in raids at three PostNL locations in Belgium, as part of a continuing investigation into fraud and tax avoidance.

The nine are suspected of human trafficking, running a criminal organisation and providing illegal services, local officials said. Two PostNL depots have also been closed pending further investigation.

The raids were made in connection with a Belgian investigation into ‘social fraud’ involving both PostNL and British package delivery company GLS. The case centres on the use of individual contractors to deliver parcels at extremely low rates.

Dutch labour inspectors reported in November 2020 that the system of sub contracting delivery services is prone to fraud.

They said nine out of 10 parcel delivery subcontractors used by parcel deliverers PostNL, DHL, DPG and GLS are flouting the rules.

PostNL said in a reaction to the latest Belgian raids that was surprised by the arrests and that the company had fully cooperated with the investigation over the past few months.