PHILIPSBURG--The Zr. Ms. Holland, the patrol ship of the Royal Dutch Navy that is currently carrying out its duties in the Caribbean with a boarding team of the Coast Guard, intercepted 220 kilos of a drug-like substance perceived to be cocaine on Saturday. The interception took place near the Windward Islands.
The Dash-8 patrol aircraft of the Coast Guard detected two suspicious vessels. The frigate immediately set course to the indicated position, while the patrol aircraft remained monitoring the suspicious vessels.
When authorities spotted the offloading of suspected smuggled goods onto a go-fast, two FRISCS (fast raiding interception and Special Forces craft) were launched from the Holland. After a high-speed chase, the FRISCS along with the Dash-8 patrol aircraft managed to bring the go-fast to a stop. The three crew members were arrested and the contraband seized.
Once the seized shipment was brought onboard the Holland, further investigation showed that the shipment contained 220 kilos of a drug-like substance perceived to be cocaine. The navy ship took the vessel used by the smugglers in tow and carried the drug traffickers, the seized bales and the vessel to the St. Maarten authorities.
During the coming period the Zr. Ms. Holland will continue to carry out its coastguard duties in the Caribbean. Counter-narcotics operations are in this regard one of its most important tasks of the ship. Police brought the three men to the Philipsburg Police station for further questioning.
