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WILLEMSTAD, Curacao -- The Dutch Caribbean Coastguard intercepted 135 kilos of cocaine during a patrol near St Kitts and Nevis. The drugs apparently originated from a sailing vessel, the “Sinestra Prove”.

The station ship, the HMS Tromp, is currently conducting coastguard duties in the Caribbean. During a patrol in the vicinity of St Kitts and Nevis, the sailing vessel “Sinestra Prove” was detected and investigated by members of the ship’s boarding team members of the Dutch Caribbean Coastguard and a liaison officer from St Kitts, who was on board in the context of regional cooperation.

Samples were taken on board the vessel and investigated for the presence of contraband. This was done three times and in each case the result was positive. On this basis, the sailing ship and the crew were arrested and brought to the port of Basseterre for further investigation.

During this action a crewmember of HMS Tromp saw bales floating in the water. The on-board helicopter from HMS Tromp – a Belgian Alouette III – went airborne to investigate and a RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) from the Tromp was sent to pick up the bales. Eventually, a total of six bales of cocaine with an estimated weight of 135 kilos were picked out the water. These bales are thought to have been on board the detained yacht.

The crew of the “Sinestra Prove” was arrested and transferred, with the bales of cocaine, to the authorities in St Kitts for further investigation.

Republished with permission of the Curacao Chronicle

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