WILLEMSTAD - Hard drugs were found on Curaçao with a soldier aboard the naval ship Zr. Ms Johan de Witt. It is not clear which drugs are involved and how many were found, but the lot would be too large for personal use.

The amphibious transport ship of the navy has just returned from the Bahamas, where it has provided assistance to victims of Hurricane Dorian.

The hard drugs were in a soldier's backpack. Two cabins were also searched aboard the ship, but nothing was found there. The soldier has been arrested.

Zero tolerance policy

Drugs are regularly found with soldiers stationed in Curaçao. For citizens, the rule is that there is no active prosecution when it comes to the use of drugs. The situation is different for soldiers because of the zero-tolerance policy of the Ministry of Defense.

This policy also applies in Curaçao, where the temptation to use drugs is a risk. Because of this risk and also because of other recent developments, the actions against to the use of drugs by soldiers in Curaçao has been intensified.