WILLEMSTAD – The Royal Netherlands Navy ship Zr.Ms. Friesland has intercepted another major drug transport in the Caribbean Sea. In a high-speed pursuit of a so-called "go-fast" boat, Dutch marines and the U.S. Coast Guard seized 19 packages of cocaine, totaling nearly 511 kilograms. 

The operation began when an unidentified vessel appeared on radar. Friesland deployed its high-speed interceptor boats, known as FRISCs, and launched a coordinated chase, supported by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter. 

The FRISCs carried joint teams of Dutch sailors and American Coast Guard officers. Despite repeated orders to stop, the drug boat ignored the warnings and performed dangerous evasive maneuvers. It was eventually halted by precision shots fired from the helicopter, forcing the vessel to stop. 

Since May 23, Zr.Ms. Friesland has served as the Royal Netherlands Navy’s station ship in the Caribbean, supporting anti-drug operations in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard. The ship is also available for humanitarian missions, such as providing aid during hurricanes or other natural disasters. 

This latest interception follows a massive drug bust on May 29, when Friesland seized over 3,000 kilograms of narcotics—approximately 1,837 kg of cocaine and 1,173 kg of marijuana—within just one hour of arriving in the region. 

The ongoing operations underscore the Dutch Navy’s critical role in regional security and its close cooperation with international partners in the fight against drug trafficking.