WILLEMSTAD - The Dutch naval vessel Zr. Ms. Groningen, currently sailing for the Caribbean Coast Guard, intercepted a drug transport on the night of July 13 to 14. South of Curacao, the station ship in the West managed to force a so-called go-fast to stop in record time.
Zr. Ms. Groningen and its new crew had only been declared operational for a few hours after an intensive training course. On the same day that the crew successfully completed the final exercise, the ship immediately achieved its first operational result.
The Caribbean Coastguard discovered the go-fast on which Zr. Ms. Groningen and the Coastguard helicopter were immediately deployed by the Maritime Operation Center (MOC). With the launch of the two fast boats of the Groningen, the so-called FRISCs, the go-fast was demanded to stop. However, those on board refused to stop, after which warning shots were fired and eventually the outboard motors were switched off. In addition to the five people on board and the drugs, four firearms were also found. A Metal Shark of the Coast Guard has taken over the people on board, the found bales and the weapons from the Groningen and brought them to the Support Center on Curaçao.
The suspects and the contraband have been handed over to the Curaçao Police Force, which has further investigated the case.