ORANJESTAD – A joint operation involving the Caribbean Coast Guard and the Dutch Navy has resulted in the interception of a drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean Sea near Aruba.
The operation took place on Thursday, June 11, when the Dutch naval vessel HNLMS Groningen (Zr.Ms. Groningen), operating under the authority of the Caribbean Coast Guard, responded to a suspicious boat detected by a Coast Guard patrol aircraft.
According to authorities, the vessel was spotted in waters near Aruba, prompting an immediate response. HNLMS Groningen deployed multiple assets, including its onboard NH-90 maritime helicopter, two Fast Raiding Interception and Special Forces Craft (FRISC) vessels, and a Coast Guard Metal Shark interceptor boat.
The coordinated operation successfully stopped the suspected drug-trafficking vessel and led to the arrest of two suspects.
The individuals, along with the seized narcotics, were transferred to the Caribbean Coast Guard support base in Savaneta, Aruba, where they were handed over to the Aruba Police Force for further investigation and processing.
Authorities confirmed that the confiscated drugs have since been destroyed.
No information has yet been released regarding the type or quantity of drugs involved in the operation.
The interception highlights the ongoing cooperation between the Dutch Navy and the Caribbean Coast Guard in combating drug trafficking in regional waters. The Caribbean Sea remains a major transit route for narcotics moving from South America toward North America and Europe.
HNLMS Groningen has been serving as the Dutch Navy's station ship in the Caribbean since early June 2026. In that role, the vessel monitors security around the ABC islands and supports the Caribbean Coast Guard in maritime law enforcement, search and rescue operations, and efforts to combat transnational crime.
The latest interception marks another success in the region's ongoing fight against drug trafficking and other illicit activities at sea.