WILLEMSTAD - The coastguard intercepted two boats on New Year's Day with a total of 23 Venezuelans, who tried to reach Aruba without papers.
The first boat was detected early Sunday morning on radar off Arashi. The police were then called in to take action on land if necessary. In the end, two people were found in the boat, and six people were on land. They had drugs with them.
At the same time, a second boat was spotted on the radar off Santo Largo. When the maritime police arrived, there was only one person on board who tried to get away.
The helicopter, which was now hovering in the air, spotted people in the mangrove forests. Police on-site managed to arrest fifteen people, including one woman.