Dutch Navy ship Groningen intercepted a batch of more than 500 kilograms of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea from two drug transports on February 13 and 25.
The Groningen received a signal from an American patrol plane during a patrol on February 13 that had spotted a suspicious fast craft. Groningen then launched a fast Frisc interceptor boat and started the pursuit.
On board was a combined team, consisting of ship's crew and Americans from the US Coast Guard. The smuggling boat managed to escape, but the people on board threw their contraband overboard, which was fished out of the water.
The two suspects caught with their boat on February 25 surrendered only after a NH90 maritime combat helicopter fired warning shots, and were since handed over to the US Coast Guard for prosecution.
HNLMS Groningen alternates between working with the Caribbean Coast Guard and the US Coast Guard during counter-drug operations.