Authorities fear violent attempt will be made to free alleged crime boss Ridouan Taghi

Taghi is currently in custody and on trial with 16 of his associates, who face accusations relating to six gangland murders in the Netherlands as well as drugs trafficking charges.

Taghi is rumored to already have made escape plans prior to his arrest in Dubai in 2019.

A cousin of Taghi is said to be looking for people to carry out the escape plan, according to information from the Criminal Intelligence Team.

“We would be looking for a mediator who will receive several tens of millions of euros for this”, a ruling by the Criminal Justice and Youth Protection (RSJ) stated.

There is also believed to be a tactical group, possibly from the Balkans, ready to assist in the operation with heavy weapons at their disposal.

According to De Telegraaf, Taghi is also said to have ordered an inquiry into whether a Dutch diplomat could be kidnapped in Africa to serve as ransom for his release. These allegations were seen as realistic and taken seriously by the investigative services.

Taghi’s lawyer, Inez Weski, responded to the accusations by saying that the RSJ is probably relying on “outdated rumors”. She said that, to date, there has been no evidence of plans to carry out an escape attempt.

However, a threat assessment was drawn up for the RSJ’s ruling based on information from the Criminal Intelligence Team (TCI). In the ruling it was stated that Taghi posed “an unacceptable social risk in the event of escaping”.

Police are currently investigating if the shooting of the high-profile Dutch crime journalist Peter R de Vries (64) in Amsterdam last week was organised and carried out by the gang led by Taghi (43).

The Dutch-Moroccan organised-crime boss is alleged to have formed a European 'super-mafia' with Daniel Kinahan as well as senior criminals from Bosnia, Italy and Chile.

In 2019, Taghi made a public statement denying reports he had threatened to have Mr de Vries killed.

Mr de Vries has been advising and acting as a confidant for a witness known as Nabil B in the case against Taghi and his alleged associates.

Nabil B's previous lawyer was shot dead in the street in Amsterdam in September 2019 and his brother has also been murdered by the ruthless mob.

Investigations by the American Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) established that Taghi was a prominent guest at Daniel Kinahan's wedding in Dubai in July 2017 while the Dutch criminal was on the run from police in his own country.

In February, it emerged that Kinahan was almost arrested by Dubai police in June 2019 in a hotel lobby when the Irish gangster went along to meet lawyers representing the fugitive mobster.