Customs outlines November confiscations

The Daily Herald writes that the Dutch Caribbean Customs intercepted cocaine, cannabis, liquid assets, spirits and cigarettes in November. In a press release, the organisation gave an outline of its successes over the last month. The press release explains how the department executed a number of catches. Customs officers managed to intercept 1,521.8 grams of cocaine and 774.8 grams of cannabis. The total catch had a street value of almost US $86,125. Customs also intercepted 20 boxes of spirits, six cartons of cigarettes and US $80,001 in liquid assets.

On November 10, members of Physical Supervision Team (Team Fysiek Toezicht) found a bag containing US $80,001, which had not been reported to Customs at the harbour of Fort Bay, Saba, during the inspection of a powerboat. The two male crew members from Puerto Rico could not explain who the owner was. They were subsequently arrested and the money was confiscated and handed over to the Dutch Caribbean Po- lice Force for further investigation.
On the same date, on Curaçao, members of Physical Supervision Team intercepted 6.5 grams of cannabis from a female passenger on a scheduled flight from Curaçao. On inspection, it turned out that the passenger was carrying the cannabis internally. The passenger was arrested and handed over to the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee –Kmar.
On November 11, members of Physical Supervision Team intercepted 38 grams of cannabis at the F.D. Roosevelt airport on St. Eustatius. The cannabis was found on a male passenger on a scheduled flight from St. Maarten. On closer inspection, the cannabis turned out to be hidden in a toiletry bag in his hand luggage. The passenger was arrested and handed over to the Dutch Caribbean Police Force.
On the same day, at the St. Eustatius harbour of Gallows Bay, members of Team Fysiek Toezicht found 20 boxes of Dewars White Label spirits, which had not been reported during import. The goods were intended for a supermarket on the island and were hidden in a consignment of goods. The goods were confiscated for further processing.
On November 18, at the Bonaire harbour (South Pier), members of Team Fysiek Toezicht found six cartons of cigarettes during a routine inspection. The cigarettes, which had not been cleared through customs by the captain, were hidden in the gal- ley of a fruit barque. The six cartons of cigarettes were confiscated and an official report was drawn up.
On November 20, members of Physical Supervision Team intercepted 296.8 grams of cocaine at Bonaire airport. The cocaine was found on a female passenger on a scheduled flight from Curaçao. On inspection, it turned out that the passenger was carrying the cocaine internally. The passenger was arrested by Customs and was handed over to KMar.
On the same date, also at Bonaire Airport, members of Physical Supervision Team intercepted 55.9 grams of cannabis. The cannabis was found on a male passenger on a scheduled flight from the Netherlands. On closer inspection, the cannabis turned out to be hidden in the passenger’s trouser pocket. The passenger was arrested by Customs and was handed over to KMar.
A third find at Bonaire Airport on November 20 cannabis was found on a male passenger on a scheduled flight from the Netherlands. It turned out that the man had swallowed balloons containing cannabis. The passenger was arrested by Customs and handed over to KMar.
On November 30, members of Physical Supervision Team intercepted 1,225 grams of cocaine at the Bonaire airport. The cocaine was found on a female passenger on a scheduled flight from the Netherlands.
On closer inspection, the cocaine turned out to be hidden behind the lining at the bottom of the hand luggage. The passenger was arrested by Customs and was handed over to KMar.
All cases are further investigated.
“Customs always remains alert for attempts of smuggling illegal products in or out of the Caribbean Netherlands,’ the press release concluded.