Country Report: Dutch Caribbean Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs 2014 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) Report Share on facebookShare on twitter Share A. Introduction The Dutch Caribbean (formerly the Netherlands Antilles) consists of the islands of Aruba, Curacao, and St. Maarten, and three smaller islands: Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba (known as the BES islands). In 2010, the Netherlands Antilles ceased to exist as a political entity when Curacao and St. Maarten acquired the same semi-autonomous status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands as Aruba. The BES islands became part of the Netherlands, similar to Dutch municipalities. Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao (the ABC Islands), located off the north coasts of Colombia and Venezuela, continue to serve as northbound transshipment points for cocaine originating from those countries. Cocaine shipments to Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao primarily originate from the Guajira Peninsula in Colombia, and from the area of Maracaibo, Venezuela. Cocaine is transported primarily via fishing boats and inter-coastal freighters for transshipment to the United States, and Europe via the Netherlands. St. Maarten, which is located in the Eastern Caribbean, is a transshipment hub for cocaine and heroin destined for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as Europe. It is home to one of the largest harbors in the Caribbean. B. Drug Control Accomplishments, Policies, and Trends 1. Institutional Development Aruba, Curacao, and St. Maarten have a high degree of autonomy over their internal affairs, with the right to exercise independent decision-making in a number of counternarcotics areas. The Kingdom of the Netherlands is responsible for the islands’ defense and foreign affairs, and assists the Governments of Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten, and the BES islands in their efforts to combat narcotics trafficking through its support for the RST (Dutch acronym for “Special Police Task Force”). The RST maintains its headquarters in Curacao and has its largest presence there. In 2012, both Curacao and St. Maarten adopted the BOP (Dutch acronym for “law on special investigative techniques”), which governs the use of techniques such as electronic surveillance and the infiltration of criminal organizations by the police. The BOP was already in effect in Aruba. Although the BOP law has been authorized, it is rarely utilized to infiltrate criminal organizations. The Kingdom of the Netherlands extends the applicability of the UN drug control conventions to the former Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. Also by extension, the Caribbean Regional Maritime Agreement signed by the Netherlands in 2010 applies to the former Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. Additionally, the former Netherlands Antilles and Aruba adopted the Agreement Regarding Mutual Cooperation in the Tracing, Freezing, Seizure and Forfeiture of the Proceeds and Instrumentalities of Crime and the Sharing of Forfeited Assets, which was signed by the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1994. Aruba Aruba’s police force, the Korps Politie Aruba (KPA), continues to evolve into a regional leader in the fight against narcotics trafficking and international criminal organizations. The KPA is at the forefront in collecting and sharing intelligence with regional law enforcement partners. Despite systemic problems of prison overcrowding, a lack of resources, and some corruption issues within law enforcement in Aruba, the KPA continues to investigate trafficking organizations effectively. The Organized Crime Unit of the KPA conducted several successful investigations in 2013, which led to multi-kilogram (kg) cocaine seizures and the arrest of multiple subjects. Curacao Curacao has vastly improved its effectiveness and efficiency in addressing endemic drug-related crime, violence, and corruption. In August 2013, the Korps Politie Curacao (KPC) appointed a new chief of police. This appointment has contributed greatly to the leadership and stability of the KPC, which in turn has led to the successes achieved by its counternarcotics section. The price per kilogram of cocaine on the local black market has increased due to greater success in seizing narcotics in Curacao. St. Maarten St. Maarten is co-located on a single island with French St. Martin. This division provides unique challenges for law enforcement investigations. Colombian and Dominican-based drug-trafficking organizations have expanded their base of operations into St. Maarten, believing that law enforcement is less prevalent than in neighboring territories. However, regional law enforcement agencies have increased cooperation. In 2013, authorities successfully investigated several drug trafficking groups involved in moving multi-hundred kilograms quantities of cocaine from St. Maarten to the United States and Europe. These investigations included unprecedented cooperation between the Korps Politie St. Maarten (KPSM) and the RST, as well as with French, Dutch, British and U.S. authorities. Bonaire, St. Eustatius, Saba The National Office for the Caribbean in the Netherlands assumes the responsibilities of law enforcement, security, and other administrative functions on behalf of the Government of the Netherlands for Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba islands. 2. Supply Reduction In 2013, the Dutch Caribbean experienced solid success in the counter-narcotics arena. Increased intelligence sharing and cooperation between law enforcement organizations in the region led to marked improvement over past years in seizing drug shipments, making arrests, and passing investigative leads to other countries. Cooperation between the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard and Royal Netherlands Navy is excellent, and USCG assets assisted Dutch authorities in seizing over 5.54 metric tons (MT) of cocaine and over 1.64 MT of marijuana. On March 4, the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard intercepted a “go-fast” boat 400 miles south of St. Maarten carrying over 1.45 MT of cocaine. It was the largest seizure in the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard’s history. Three suspected traffickers – two from the Dominican Republic and one from Venezuela – were arrested. 3. Drug Abuse Awareness, Demand Reduction, and Treatment Non-governmental organizations on Curacao and Aruba and the Turning Point Foundation on St. Maarten organized awareness campaigns during the year targeting the islands’ youth to increase their knowledge of the negative consequences of drug use. The campaigns utilized including television commercials and interviews, as well as social media. On St. Maarten, the Turning Point Foundation, along with the Red Cross and 14 other organizations, organized a drug-awareness march to bring attention to the fight against substance abuse in the community. The United States continues to support demand reduction programs with the International School of Curacao and the Curacao Baseball City Foundation. 4. Corruption As a matter of policy, the Dutch Caribbean does not encourage or facilitate illegal activity associated with drug trafficking. However, corruption of public officials, particularly among members of the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, continues to be a major concern, and efforts to address the problem are lacking. Background checks of law enforcement officials who hold sensitive positions are not routinely conducted, nor have public integrity standards been adopted in many government agencies. C. National Goals, Bilateral Cooperation, and U.S. Policy Initiatives The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) works with their island counterparts to advance joint investigations, both within the Dutch Caribbean and the United States. The Kingdom of the Netherlands maintains support for counternarcotics efforts by continuing to support U.S. Forward Operating Locations in Curacao and Aruba. U.S. military aircraft conduct counternarcotics detection and monitoring flights over both source and transit zones around the region. The United States and the Netherlands have a memorandum of understanding allowing the U.S. Coast Guard to assist in counternarcotics operations from the platforms of Dutch naval vessels in the region (including the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard). In addition, the Dutch Navy regularly conducts counter narcotics operations in the region and fully cooperates with the Joint Interagency Task Force South. D. Conclusion The extent of regional cooperation and intelligence sharing against drug trafficking varies across the Dutch Caribbean. The United States will encourage further progress in these areas, and continue to cooperate with law enforcement authorities in the region to interdict drug shipments and dismantle trafficking organizations. 2014 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report The 2014 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) is an annual report by the Department of State to Congress prepared in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act. It describes the efforts of key countries to attack all aspects of the international drug trade in Calendar Year 2013. Volume I covers drug and chemical control activities. Volume II covers money laundering and financial crimes. -- Volume I: Drug and Chemical Control state.gov/documents/organization/222881.pdf -- Volume II: Money Laundering and Financial Crimes state.gov/documents/organization/222880.pdf ..•.¸¸•´¯`•.¸¸.ஐ CHANGE YOUR LIFE ஐ..•.¸¸•´¯`•.¸¸.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:09:44 +0000
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