Representatives of some of the disciplined services involved in the control.
A scene during the control.
The control in progress.
PHILIPSBURG--A total of 26 vessels were controlled on Tuesday, September 18, during what authorities have described as a large-scale control conducted at the entry points of the three “busiest harbours” in Great Bay.
The controls were conducted by the Alpha Team (Police Force, Immigration, Royal Marechaussee and Customs) in collaboration with the Police K-9 Unit, Coast Guard, St. Martin Police Aux Frontieres (PAF) and maritime inspection.
Vessels controlled during the operation, which began at 8:00am and ended around 4:30pm, included cargo vessels, ferry boats, sailing vessels and jet skis. The control was geared towards controlling and combating border-crossing crime and criminal activity, human trafficking and human smuggling, illegal firearms and drugs.
“This control was very successful and more controls are scheduled to take place,” police spokesperson Chief Inspector Ricardo Henson said in a press release on Thursday.
According to Henson, the Alpha Team has been “very successful” in intercepting persons illegally coming into or travelling through St. Maarten via Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA).
