Kilos of cocaine hidden on Dutch frigate

12 January 2006

AMSTERDAM — The Dutch Navy was red-faced on Thursday when it was announced kilos of cocaine were found on one of its vessels late last year.

The drugs were discovered on the multi-purpose frigate, Hr.Ms. Tjerk Hiddes, on 7 December when the ship was berthed in Curacao, the Military Police service (Marechaussee) said.

The spokesperson would not say how big the haul was, or whether the find was made by chance. No arrests were made.

The ship was in the Caribbean for four months as part of a task force to combat drug trafficking. Curacao is the last island of the Netherlands Antilles.

The Tjerk Hiddes returned to the naval port of Den Helder in the Netherlands on 19 December.

The discovery of the drugs is a major embarrassment, as it is not the first time Dutch military personnel involved in anti-drugs operations have become traffickers.

A group of Royal Marines used an Orion patrol plane to smuggle 125 kilos of cocaine in 1998. A court in Amsterdam sentenced the main culprits to sentences of up to eight years in 2000.

Subject: Dutch news