Convicted Heineken kidnapper held for extortion

Convicted Dutch gangster Willem Holleeder, who gained notoriety for the 1983 kidnapping of a Heineken beer tycoon, has been arrested for extortion in connection with an investigation into organised crime, prosecutors say.

Holleeder, six other men and three women were rounded up after more than 450 police and army officers raided homes, businesses, safety deposit boxes and two sport schools in and around Amsterdam in a massive police operation.

"Willem Holleeder was arrested this morning and is suspected of being involved in extortion," public prosecution spokesman Wim de Bruin said on Monday.

Known as "The Nose", Holleeder, 54, became a household name in Holland for his role in the abduction of beer magnate Freddy Heineken and his driver three decades ago. The two were released after a ransom of 35 million Dutch guilders (US$20 million today) was paid. Most of the money was never recovered.

Holleeder was sentenced to 11 years in 1987 for the kidnapping and released five years later.

The Heineken kidnapping is one of the country's best-known crime sagas and was turned into a movie, with a new version planned for release next year.