The Coastguard for the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba in collaboration with the guards of the Valero oil refinery and the Maritime Police, in Aruba arrested five illegal immigrants.
A press release from the Coast Guard states that around 03.30 am on September 16
a report came in at the Coast Guard that illegal immigrants were on the reef near the marina of the Valero refinery. Immediately, two units of the Coast Guard were sent to that position the release states.
The Maritime Police was also enabled, on arrival they found three illegal immigrants on the reef. All three were arrested immediately. Valero had also arrested another two immigrants by then.
It appeared as if a boat had departed from Venezuela with 20 people on board. At some point the vessel hit the yola on which they sat. The Coast Guard with maritime police and Warda Nos Costa are still looking for the other 15 missing persons.
Besides counter drug operations and saving lives at sea, the detection of illegal immigration is also one of the tasks of the Coast Guard for the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.