THE HAGUE – The Dutch government is stepping up its support for the fight against organized and cross-border crime in Curaçao and the wider Caribbean part of the Kingdom, according to its new Kingdom Relations policy agenda.
The policy letter identifies the Caribbean islands as particularly vulnerable to organized crime because of their geographic position along major regional trafficking routes. This includes drug trafficking, money laundering and other forms of criminal infiltration into legitimate sectors of the economy.
To address this, the Dutch cabinet says it will continue investing in institutions such as the Recherche Samenwerkingsteam (RST), the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Joint Court of Justice.
For Curaçao, this support is seen as essential as authorities continue to deal with increasingly sophisticated criminal networks operating across the Caribbean and Latin America.
The policy also places emphasis on both criminal and administrative approaches, meaning governments will not only focus on arrests and prosecutions but also on strengthening institutions to prevent criminal infiltration into permits, public contracts and subsidies.
Dutch officials say stronger cooperation within the Kingdom is essential because organized crime does not respect borders.
For Curaçao, where concerns over criminal influence in the economy and public administration have been growing, the announcement signals continued Dutch involvement in strengthening law enforcement and judicial systems.