WILLEMSTAD - On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, law enforcement agencies, including the Joint Investigation Team (RST) and the Curaçao Police Force (KPC), apprehended a 54-year-old individual named R.V.A. in Curaçao.  

The arrest was executed under the directives of the Public Prosecution Service. Subsequently, a search was conducted at R.V.A.'s residence under the supervision of an examining magistrate. R.V.A., who served as a dockmaster at the Schottegat harbor in Curaçao, is suspected of participating, alongside other harbor workers, in the long-term smuggling of significant amounts of cocaine inside shipping containers. These containers were destined for Europe.

R.V.A. has been detained for further investigation.  

Notably, two other individuals involved in this case, namely J.J.J. (45 years old) and R.J.R. (50 years old), who worked as security guards at the harbor, were previously arrested and currently remain in custody. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional arrests in the near future.