THE HAGUE, WILLEMSTAD – The cooperation agreement underpinning the Recherche Samenwerkingsteam (RST), which investigates serious organized crime in Curaçao and the rest of the Dutch Caribbean, will undergo a new evaluation in 2027.
The planned review is included in the Netherlands’ Strategic Evaluation Agenda accompanying the proposed 2027 Kingdom Relations budget.
The Protocol on Specialized Criminal Investigation Cooperation is listed for an evaluation beginning in 2027.
The RST operates in Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba and works closely with the local police forces and Public Prosecutor’s Offices.
Its responsibilities include investigations into serious, organized and cross-border crime. The team is also involved in investigations into international corruption and money laundering and handles international requests for legal assistance.
Although criminal investigation is primarily a responsibility of the individual countries, the RST provides specialized investigative capacity under the cooperation protocol.
The protocol itself is for an indefinite period.
The Dutch government is providing additional funding for RST investigative capacity. Approximately €755,000 is being transferred to the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security for 2027, followed by approximately €1.6 million in 2028.
The outcome of the 2027 evaluation could therefore be important for the future structure of specialized criminal investigations throughout the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.