Rotterdam police have made a third arrest in connection with a fatal shooting in the Delfshaven neighborhood on Thursday, February 20, 2026. The shooting, which occurred around 4:50 PM local time, has led to a widening investigation into a suspected drug deal gone wrong.
The latest arrest, announced Sunday, February 22, 2026, involves a 36-year-old man who is believed to be the driver of the getaway vehicle, according to reports. Earlier, a 29-year-old man with no fixed address was apprehended on Friday at Düsseldorf Airport in Germany and is considered the primary suspect in the shooting, Rijnmond reports. A 35-year-old Rotterdam resident was also taken into custody Thursday evening.
The victim has been identified as 34-year-old Yasin, known as Seref, from Capelle aan den IJssel, and was reportedly involved in criminal activity. Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a failed attempt to complete a deal for kilograms of hard drugs, with the buyers refusing to pay. Sources indicate the incident unfolded as a “ripdeal” – a drug transaction that turned violent.
According to De Telegraaf, a person assisting Yasin fired down from a stairwell at the buyers. The suspect then reportedly flushed an unknown quantity of drugs down the toilet in an attempt to avoid arrest, but was apprehended anyway.
Police discovered the getaway vehicle, a dark gray Audi A3, parked on Schans in Rotterdam-West around 11:00 PM on Thursday. NOS News reports that twenty detectives are currently assigned to the case, and authorities are appealing for witnesses to come forward. The 35-year-old suspect will be brought before a judge on Monday, February 23, 2026. This case highlights the ongoing challenges of drug-related crime in the Rotterdam area.
