The patrol vessel HNLMS Friesland has intercepted a smuggling boat south of the ABC islands. The so-called go-fast transported more than 3,000 kilos of drugs. This already happened on May 29, but has only now been announced. The contraband has been confiscated.
A Dash-8 patrol aircraft of the Caribbean Coast Guard discovered the suspicious vessel in the Caribbean Sea. Zr.Ms. Friesland then headed for it and launched two Frisc motorboats. During the chase, smugglers dumped more than 100 packages into the sea. They have been fished out. In total, it turned out to be 1,837 kilos of cocaine and 1,173 kilos of marijuana. The narcotics have been transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard.
HNLMS Friesland made a nice entrance into the Caribbean with the catch. The patrol ship arrived there on May 23 and was deployed for the first time six days later, resulting in a drug seizure.
HNLMS Friesland has relieved HNLMS Groningen as station ship. Carrying out counter-drug operations is one of the tasks. The ship alternates between working with the US Coast Guard and the Caribbean Coast Guard. In addition, the ship is available for humanitarian aid during natural disasters, such as hurricanes.