WILLEMSTAD – After nearly five years of Dutch investments in border security across Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten, researchers have been unable to determine whether the program has actually reduced drug trafficking, human trafficking, weapons smuggling, or illegal migration.
That is one of the most significant conclusions of an independent evaluation conducted by research firm DSP-groep on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.
The evaluation examined the border security improvement program implemented between February 2021 and December 2025.
Although the researchers identified improvements in equipment, operational procedures, information sharing, and cooperation between security agencies, they found insufficient evidence to establish whether these developments had produced measurable reductions in cross-border crime.
A central problem is that the program was launched without clearly defined and measurable objectives for reducing specific criminal activities.
For example, the evaluation found that no concrete targets had been established for reducing drug trafficking, human trafficking, or illegal border crossings.
In addition, the available information was insufficient to determine whether increased inspections and improved border controls had led to fewer criminal incidents.
The researchers therefore distinguish between operational improvements and actual security outcomes.
The introduction of new equipment, the deployment of additional personnel, and more frequent inspections demonstrate that activities have been carried out. However, these developments do not automatically establish that criminal activity has declined.
According to the evaluation, the program's ultimate impact on border security remains insufficiently documented.
The findings do not establish that the investments have been ineffective. Rather, they show that the available evidence does not allow researchers to determine how effective the program has been in achieving its broader security objectives.
Despite these shortcomings, the evaluation recommends extending cooperation between the Netherlands and the three Caribbean countries for another three years.
However, the researchers argue that any extension should be accompanied by significant changes to the program's structure and implementation.
Future objectives should be clearly defined and measurable, allowing authorities to evaluate whether investments produce concrete security improvements.
The researchers also recommend placing greater emphasis on recruiting and retaining personnel within local border security agencies.
Another priority should be establishing clearer agreements about responsibilities, decision-making procedures, and the deployment of Dutch personnel.
The evaluation warns that without these adjustments, the knowledge, cooperation, and operational improvements developed during the program could eventually be lost.
The report also raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of Dutch assistance.
In Curaçao, for example, the joint border intelligence center remains entirely staffed by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee because local agencies have been unable to provide their own personnel.
Meanwhile, more than a quarter of positions within Curaçao Customs remain vacant, limiting the organization's ability to implement reforms and maintain operational improvements.
These structural weaknesses demonstrate why the researchers believe that extending the program without changing its approach would be insufficient.
The evaluation effectively presents the Netherlands and the Caribbean countries with a policy choice: continue using Dutch personnel to compensate for local staffing shortages or restructure the cooperation to ensure that local border security institutions can eventually operate more independently.
For Curaçao, the findings raise broader questions about accountability and the effectiveness of public investments in security.
While additional personnel, equipment, and improved cooperation have strengthened certain aspects of border control, the central question remains unanswered: whether the program has made Curaçao demonstrably safer from cross-border criminal activity.
The researchers conclude that future cooperation must be designed not only to improve daily operations but also to produce measurable, sustainable security results.