WILLEMSTAD - All three suspects prosecuted in connection with the '600 kilo drug robbery case' for the burglary of the Rio Canario police station in October 2018, including a former 33-year-old police officer from the Curaçao Police Force (KPC), have been acquitted of involvement in this burglary 'for lack of sufficient legal evidence'.  

According to the Joint Court of Justice in a press statement. In the opinion of the Court of First Instance of Curaçao, the incriminating statements made against the suspects by a number of anonymous threatened witnesses are 'insufficiently supported by other evidence'.  

The court has sentenced the former police officer, M.M.M., to six years in prison for his involvement in importing 340 kilograms of cocaine, dealing in cocaine, and misappropriating his service weapon (he heard a demand of 16 years). According to the Public Prosecution Service, the import of the 340 kilos of coke in September 2018 was the prelude to the drug robbery a month later from the safe of the police station.  

The judge ruled in the case against eight suspects in the investigation codenamed 'Inex'. This concerned an investigation into the burglary of the police station in Rio Canario, in which a large number of narcotics (530 kilos of cocaine and about 14 kilos of hemp) was stolen. During the investigation into this burglary, suspicions arose of the suspects' involvement in other criminal offenses.  

Five other suspects have been convicted of their involvement in drug trafficking. One suspect to 100-hour community service and the other four suspects to prison terms ranging from six to twenty-four months. 

Two brothers, aged 27 and 21, have been sentenced to prison terms of three and seven years respectively for their joint involvement in a severe threat with a firearm and possession of weapons. The youngest brother has also been convicted of preparing to commit murder, drug dealing, and defrauding an insurance company.  

The Public Prosecution Service is considering the question to appeal. The drug robbery case caused a shock in society and a lot of mistrust towards and within the police corps. With the ruling of the court, it is still not clear who is responsible for the burglary.