ORANJESTAD – The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard intercepted a small vessel carrying 16 undocumented men on Saturday evening as it was en route to Aruba. The incident was confirmed over the weekend. 

Two of the individuals on board were formally arrested, while the remaining 14 were transferred into the custody of the Coast Guard for further processing. 

The boat was detected on Saturday night, prompting a rapid deployment of both a patrol vessel and an aircraft from the Coast Guard. The patrol boat successfully intercepted the vessel at sea, and all those on board were transported to the Coast Guard support station in Savaneta. 

Authorities have not yet released further details about the nationalities or intended plans of the individuals on board. The incident highlights ongoing concerns over illegal maritime migration in the southern Caribbean. The Coast Guard continues to monitor the region closely for unauthorized border crossings.