Customs Sint Maarten intercepts 20 kilos of cocaine, two suspects arrested in the Netherlands

Customs Sint Maarten intercepted 20 kilograms of cocaine on April 18, 2026, during an inspection of an in-transit container vessel at a regional port. The narcotics were found concealed within a sports bag in an apparently empty container bound for the Netherlands. The Prosecutor's Office Sint Maarten subsequently authorized special investigative powers, requesting Dutch authorities to continue the inquiry. The container vessel arrived in the Netherlands on May 5, 2026, where Dutch authorities inspected it further. The investigation, later taken over by the multidisciplinary HARC Team, ultimately led to the arrest of two suspects in the Netherlands on suspicion of involvement in the importation of the cocaine.