WILLEMSTAD - After more than a year, the Dominican Republic has extradited Urvin ‘Nuto’ Wawoe to Curaçao, as reported by the island's Public Prosecutor’s Office. Nuto was arrested last year on the Caribbean island, along with Terence de Vries and Dennis Goedee, who is alleged to have connections with Ridouan Taghi.
While De Vries and Goedee have since been extradited to the Netherlands, Nuto has now arrived in Curaçao. He is considered one of the leaders of the criminal Curaçaoan gang ‘No Limit Soldiers’ (NLS) and is suspected of involvement in murder, large-scale drug trafficking, and money laundering in both Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
Themis Investigation
Nuto's arrest was part of the Themis investigation, a comprehensive probe into criminal organizations in Curaçao and Sint Maarten. In November 2020, during the initial phase of this investigation, Shurandy ‘Tyson’ Quant, a childhood friend of Wawoe from the Koraal Specht neighborhood, was arrested in Dubai. Quant was another key figure in the NLS.
Extradition Approval
The extradition of Dennis Goedee and Urvin Laurence Wawoe was previously approved by the Supreme Court in the Dominican Republic. Both men, who are linked to mafia organizations, spent a year attempting to prevent their transfer to the Netherlands. The Netherlands had requested their extradition based on charges that included planning the kidnappings of Princess Amalia and Prime Minister Mark Rutte, according to Diario Libre in Santo Domingo.
Dennis Goedee is seen as a significant member of the Mocro Mafia, an organization allegedly controlling drug trafficking in the Netherlands. During their arrest last year, Dominican authorities seized vehicles, artworks, and other luxury items. A farm with exotic animals, including sixty-four dogs of various breeds, was also confiscated.
Operational Details
During the operations that led to the arrests of Goedee and Nuto, Terence Angelo Richard de Vries was also apprehended in an apartment on General Cambiasso Street in Ensanche Naco. He resisted extradition for several months but decided to surrender in August. His departure from the country occurred in September 2023.
Significance of Nuto's Extradition
With Nuto's extradition, a significant step has been taken in the fight against organized crime in Curaçao and the region. The continued progress of the Themis investigation is expected to shed more light on the extent of the criminal networks and the involvement of other suspects. Curaçao hopes to end the influence of these gangs and improve safety on the island.