WILLEMSTAD – The second day of the criminal trial against Urvin ‘Nuto’ Wawoe centered on large-scale international drug trafficking, with the court presenting extensive evidence from a massive investigation file. While Wawoe has previously denied involvement in several murders and attempted murders, he chose to remain silent throughout today’s session.
The court confronted Wawoe with detailed excerpts from the case file, which links him to tens of kilograms of cocaine, encrypted communications, and international smuggling operations.
Allegations Involving Hundreds of Kilos of Cocaine
According to the Public Prosecution Service, the case includes, among others, a shipment of 30 kilograms of cocaine between November 2019 and January 2021, and another batch of 172 kilograms during the period November 2020 to January 2021.
Chat conversations obtained via encrypted apps such as Signal and Sky ECC refer to “green packages,” “boxes,” “friends walking to Paris,” and “30 pieces going in suitcases.” The investigation also includes photos of luggage with baggage tags and packages suspected to contain narcotics.
One such image shows an open suitcase with a baggage tag labeled “Lambert”, allegedly checked in on an Air France flight from St. Maarten to Paris. When questioned about the image, Wawoe simply replied, “I remain silent, sir.” He gave the same answer when asked about his alleged contact with co-defendant Lucas, who has already been convicted in related offenses.
Encrypted Chats, Codenames, and Identifying Evidence
The court also presented excerpts from Sky and Signal chat messages, attributed to accounts allegedly belonging to Wawoe. Police used voice recognition, selfies, and other identifiers to link the accounts to him. The chats referenced drug smuggling routes to Jamaica, financial transactions, and the packing of narcotics into luggage.
Photos found during the investigation included drug packages marked with codes such as “SOL” and “C07”, known indicators in international drug trafficking circles.
Wawoe Denies Drug Involvement but Speaks of Personal Impact
Despite the extensive evidence presented, Wawoe maintained his innocence, claiming he has lived in Curaçao for the past 17 years and has no ties to individuals involved in the so-called “Hato shooting”.
“I sympathize with the innocent victims, because it could have been my own family. I want my name cleared,” Wawoe said at the start of the hearing.
Part of International Operation “Themis”
The investigation into Wawoe forms part of Project Themis, a large-scale international judicial operation focused on dismantling transnational organized crime. The court continued reviewing the digital evidence presented by prosecutors but noted it would not read every detail aloud.
“We are not here to read bedtime stories,” the judge remarked, highlighting the sheer volume of the case file.
The trial is expected to continue in the coming days, with further focus on encrypted communication, financial trails, and Wawoe’s alleged role as a key figure in international cocaine trafficking networks.
