Royal Netherlands Navy vessel HNLMS Holland intercepted a drugs transport in the Caribbean Sea on the night of 31 October. This was immediately followed by a second haul. Multiple drug hauls are becoming a regular occurrence for this station ship. Both times, the drugs were intercepted by forcing a go-fast to stop.
After the go-fast had been detected, the Royal Netherlands Navy vessel launched its two fast boats, known as FRISCs, which managed to bring the drugs boat to a halt. When the smugglers noticed the interception boats, they tried to dump the various packages of contraband overboard. Some of the packages were later retrieved from the water, while others sank.
Once alongside the drugs boat, no further contraband was found on board, but three suspects (one Venezuelan and two Dominicans) were arrested. Approximately 265 kilos of drugs were seized. The suspects and the contraband were later handed over to a US Coast Guard vessel.
Repetition of moves
One day after this first haul, HNLMS Holland encountered another go-fast with the NH90 maritime combat helicopter. Once again, the people on board the go-fast started dumping goods overboard. HNLMS Holland approached the go-fast with its two FRISCs, with on board a combined team of the US Coast Guard and the Netherlands Marine Corps. The US Coast Guard team detained the people on board the go-fast. On board, nine packages of cocaine were found, with a volume of approximately 270 kilos. The suspects (three Dominicans, one Colombian) and contraband were later also handed over to the US Coast Guard for prosecution in the United States.
HNLMS Holland has been active in the region since May. The vessel is deployed for counter-drugs operations and humanitarian aid. It also performs various coastguard tasks in the Caribbean such as detecting illegal fishing, environmental offences and search and rescue tasks. Enforcing the international rule of law is one of the constitutional tasks of the Defence organisation.
