WILLEMSTAD – The justice ministers of Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten and the Netherlands have agreed on several measures aimed at strengthening cooperation on law enforcement, crime prevention and public safety across the Kingdom.
The agreements were reached during the Judicial Four-Country Consultation (JVO) held in Curaçao, where the four ministers discussed shared challenges ranging from drug trafficking and organized crime to youth crime and emergency response.
The Four Ministers of Justice, Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands and Sint Maarten
Drug enforcement was among the main topics. The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard presented recent developments concerning drug interceptions and migration. The ministers also discussed international drug trafficking routes and the position of the Caribbean countries within those networks.
According to research discussed during the meeting, the Caribbean countries of the Kingdom are not among the five most important transit countries for cocaine destined for the Netherlands. The participants said the findings contribute to a more balanced understanding of the islands' role in international drug flows.
Youth crime was another priority. Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten and the Netherlands agreed to jointly organize an academic conference focusing on the prevention of and response to juvenile crime. The conference will build on programs and initiatives already being implemented within the individual countries.
The ministers also agreed to continue cooperation against organized and undermining crime. Particular attention will be given to improving the overall picture of criminal activity and strengthening the involvement of relevant national agencies in administrative measures against criminal networks.
Another issue was the availability of personnel and resources within the justice system. The countries are using a so-called justice capacity imbalance monitor to obtain a clearer picture of available and required capacity. The objective is to identify shortages that could prevent agreements within the justice chain from being implemented effectively and on time.
Cooperation on disaster response and crisis management will also continue. The CAS-BES cooperation agreement covering fire services, disaster response and crisis management will be extended for another three years.
Three documents were formally signed during the meeting: the decisions adopted during the JVO, an amendment to the protocol governing the administrative approach to undermining crime, and the extension of the CAS-BES Fire Service Cooperation Agreement.
The four governments said the agreements reaffirm their commitment to effective and sustainable cooperation in justice, law enforcement and security throughout the Kingdom.
The next Judicial Four-Country Consultation is scheduled to take place in June 2027 on Bonaire.