Figures published by the Dutch Justice Ministry show criminal property worth some 50 million euros was confiscated by the authorities in 2009. That amount is a marked increase - some 20 million euros - on the total reclaimed in 2008.

The rise can be attributed in part to out-of-court settlements made between the Justice Ministry and commercial broadcasters in a court case concerning phone-in TV games. Broadcasters SBS, RTL and a couple of production houses were suspected of breaking the law on gambling. They bought their way out of prosecution. Another 11 million euros' worth of property was seized, three million more than in 2008.

The ministry says it expects income from confiscations to rise because of a bill now before parliament. The government wants to extend the laws that allow the authorities to strip criminals of their property. The new law would allow police and public prosecutors to continue phone taps and surveillance even after the end of court cases, in order to trace possessions acquired illegally.

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