Some of the cocaine seized by the Dutch Navy on October 19. In that bust, 330kg of cocaine was found on a speedboat.
ARUBA--Dutch Navy ship Zr.Ms. Groningen intercepted a speedboat with 330 kilogrammes (kg) of cocaine on board just west of Aruba in the early morning hours of October 19.
The speedboat was discovered by a Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG) Dash 8 aircraft. The Groningen was then dispatched to intercept the speedboat, which was travelling on a “well-known smuggling route,” according to a press release.
A fast raiding, interception and special forces craft (FRISC) with both United States Coast Guard (USCG) personnel and Dutch Marines on board disabled the speedboat.
During a subsequent search, 330kg of cocaine was found and confiscated. The speedboat’s crew and the seized drugs were later handed over to United States (US) authorities. The suspects will be prosecuted in the US, said the Dutch Navy earlier this week.
The Groningen has been active in the Caribbean since April and supports counterdrug operations of the DCCG.
