With warning shots and targeted fire, the navy managed to stop two drug shipments in the Caribbean Sea. In these actions last Thursday and Friday night, more than 1,900 kilograms of contraband were intercepted.
On Thursday evening, the crew of HNLMS Groningen caught sight of a suspicious vessel. The station ship started the chase with 2 fast FRISCs. On board were teams from the Coast Guard and Marines from the Fleet Marine Squadron. A short distance from the suspect vessel, blue flashing lights were turned on. The smuggling boat then ran off at high speed while the crew threw packages into the sea. Warning shots were fired from the FRISCs. However, the suspects surrendered only after the outboard engine was turned off with targeted fire. The discarded packages have been fished out. On Friday, a similar scenario repeated itself.
The suspects and the drugs have been handed over to the police of Curaçao.
Earlier this month, the Navy also made a drug seizure. On 6 June, 200 kilos of contraband were intercepted near the Windward Islands.