WILLEMSTAD, ORANJESTAD - In the night from Sunday to Monday, the Coast Guard detected a vessel that sailed in the Aruban territorial waters. The vessel, a tugboat named 'GRACIA', sailed under the Samoan flag. After interception, the Coast Guard took the vessel to the Paardenbaai for further inspection. In close cooperation, Customs, Arumil, KPA (K9 brigade and Unit for Organized Crime), Justice BOT K9 and the Coast Guard found drugs on board.

It was then decided to relocate the vessel to the Navy barracks Savaneta for further investigation. There it was established that it involved nearly 2,200 kilos of drugs. After weighing, an extra package was found in the ship. Preliminary tests indicate that it is probably cocaine. The five persons on board, all with Venezuelan nationality, were arrested and handed over to the KPA.