The Royal Netherlands Navy Oceangoing Patrol Vessel HNLMS Holland has intercepted for the third time in a short period a drugs transport. On the Caribbean Sea the patrol vessel made a so-called go-fast to a halt. The go-fast had on board two persons. With the haul a volume of 235 kilos of cocaine was involved.

The NH90 maritime attack helicopter detected the go-fast on a regular patrol. Immediately HNLMS Holland began the case with the launch of the two Fast Raiding Interception and Special Forces Crafts (FRISCs). On board of the FRISC’s was a combined team of the US Coast Guard and the Netherlands Marine Corps. The NH90 helicopter provided for air support.

The US Coast Guard detained the two persons from the go-fast, they were both from Dominican descent. The suspects and the contraband were handed over to an United States Coast Guard vessel at a later moment. They were transferred to the US Coast Guard for prosecution in the United States.

Coast Guard tasks and counterdrugs

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.

This October the ship also had two successful drugs interceptions.