WILLEMSTAD – Despite having legal tools in place to seize criminal assets, Curaçao continues to struggle with effective confiscation and asset management, according to the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) evaluation.
The report highlights that while confiscation is formally a national policy objective, actual results have declined in recent years. One contributing factor is the discontinuation of specialized teams, such as the former Afpakteam, as well as limited prosecutorial and investigative capacity.
In some cases, confiscated assets were sold below market value, raising concerns about how seized property is preserved and managed. The CFATF also notes gaps in recovering proceeds generated abroad, despite Curaçao’s role as a transit jurisdiction for international crime.
Improving asset recovery, the report states, is essential not only for deterrence but also for restoring public confidence in the justice system.