WILLEMSTAD – Over the Easter weekend, a total of nine individuals were arrested on Curaçao for residing on the island without valid documentation. The arrests were the result of various checks carried out by the police, immigration services, and a multidisciplinary team under Operation Siman Santu.
On Friday, April 18, two Colombian men were detained on Playa Santa Cruz for staying on the island without permission. The following evening, Saturday, April 19, a Jamaican man was arrested during a traffic check near the Julianadorp roundabout. His vehicle was found to be in poor condition, and he was also staying on Curaçao without valid papers.
On Sunday evening, April 20, two Jamaican men were arrested on the road to Santa Cruz. They had been residing on the island for nine months without the proper documents. In both cases, the vehicles involved were confiscated, and the men are currently in custody awaiting deportation.
Additionally, on Thursday, a large-scale inspection took place at a supermarket chain on the island. A multidisciplinary team consisting of the Public Prosecution Service, police, social affairs (SOAW), inspection, SVB, and the Ministry of Economic Development (MEO) carried out simultaneous operations at multiple locations. Three individuals were arrested at one branch, while four were arrested at another. Several employees were also found to be working without valid work permits.
All the arrested foreign nationals have been presented to an assistant public prosecutor and are being held in immigration detention pending their deportation.