WILLEMSTAD - In a late-night operation, the Coast Guard of Curaçao intercepted a vessel carrying 22 undocumented migrants near Klein Curaçao. The Maritime Operations Center of the Coast Guard detected suspicious activity and swiftly dispatched a Metal Shark patrol boat to investigate the contact. 

Upon reaching the location, the patrol team found a boat with 22 Venezuelan nationals on board, including 14 men, 8 women, and 2 minors. The migrants were promptly transferred to the custody of the Curaçao Police Force (Korps Politie Curaçao) for further processing. 

Authorities have not released additional details about the intended destination of the migrants or the individuals responsible for the attempted illegal entry. The case remains under investigation as officials work to gather more information about the circumstances of this unauthorized journey. 

The Coast Guard continues to monitor the waters around Curaçao closely, particularly given the ongoing challenges of undocumented migration and human smuggling in the region. This incident underscores the persistent efforts by local authorities to secure the maritime borders and prevent illegal entry into the island.