WILLEMSTAD – What started as a routine night patrol ended in a major drug seizure after police detected a strong marijuana smell coming from a vehicle, leading to the discovery of more than half a kilo of cannabis and a wider drug investigation.
The case now involves two men, aged 27 and 31, who failed to appear in court for the handling of their criminal case.
According to the prosecution, officers were patrolling around 4:00 a.m. when they noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from a passing vehicle, prompting them to stop and inspect it.
During the search, officers found a bag in the back of the vehicle containing 515 grams of marijuana.
The 31-year-old suspect later admitted he knew the drugs were inside the bag and told authorities the 27-year-old man had nothing to do with it.
He claimed the bag belonged to someone else and insisted the marijuana was intended for personal use.
The investigation did not stop there.
Police later searched the suspect’s home, where they discovered an additional 520 grams of marijuana inside his room, along with 85 marijuana plants growing in the yard.
The Openbaar Ministerie Curaçao (Public Prosecutor’s Office) says it considers the evidence sufficient and has requested a 12-month prison sentence for the 31-year-old suspect, eight months of which would be conditional.
Prosecutors have requested that the 27-year-old co-suspect be acquitted, based on the main suspect’s statement and the available evidence.
The case highlights Curaçao’s continued battle against illegal drug possession and cultivation, as authorities intensify efforts to tackle narcotics activity on the island.
The court is expected to issue its ruling at a later date.