The Dutch Navy Ship HNLMS Groningen intercepted 3 drug shipments in the Caribbean Region, within a week. This kept a total of 1,653 kilograms of narcotics off the streets. The interceptions date from 4, 5 and 9 April, but have now been announced.

During the first action on April 4, a Caribbean Coast Guard patrol aircraft spotted a suspicious vessel: the NH90 helicopter and 2 fast interceptor boats (Frisc’s) of HNLMS. Groningen was immediately deployed.
It led to an attempted escape during which packages were thrown overboard. Stop signals and warning shots were ignored. The outboard engines of the go-fast were then shot to pieces by the NH90.
The team of the American Coast Guard and the Marine Corps then intercepted 921 kilos of marijuana.

Second and third catch
Less than 24 hours later, another fast smuggling boat was spotted during a patrol. In this case as well, a forced interdiction of the vessel was required. During this interception, 342 kilos of cocaine were seized.
During a similar operation on April 9, 145 kilograms of marijuana and 245 kilograms of cocaine were seized. All illegal goods were handed over to the American Coast Guard.

Stationship
HNLMS Groningen has been the station ship in the Caribbean Region since the end of January. Carrying out counter-drug operations is one of her tasks. The naval vessel works alternately with the American Coast Guard and the Caribbean Coast Guard.
In the meantime, HNLMS Groningen has intercepted more than 5,000 kilograms of contraband during six drug transports.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Human trafficking and smuggling remain serious concerns in St. Maarten. In response, the Ministry of Justice, through its National Reporting Center (NRC), has officially launched the "See Something? Say Something!" campaign. This public awareness initiative, developed in partnership with key national stakeholders, aims to empower citizens to identify and report suspicious activities safely and anonymously. "Combating human trafficking and smuggling is not just a legal responsibility; it is a moral duty. As a Ministry, we are committed to strengthening our justice system by protecting the vulnerable, prosecuting offenders, and empowering our communities with the knowledge to recognize and report these crimes," stated Minister Nathalie M. Tackling.

A key component of the campaign is educating the public on the differences between human trafficking and human smuggling, as these crimes vary significantly in context and execution. Understanding these crimes is the first step to stopping them: • Human Trafficking: exploitation of people through force, fraud, or coercion – such as forced labor, sexual exploitation, or domestic servitude. It is a crime against a Person, otherwise known as modern-day slavery. • Human Smuggling: involves helping people cross borders illegally, often in extremely unsafe conditions. It is a crime against the State. Both thrive in silence, and both can happen right in front of us. The public plays a vital role in preventing these crimes.

Follow the Ministry of Justice and NRC on social media (FB/IG: @NRCSXM, @Minofjustice) for real-time alerts and educational content on identifying these crimes, taking action, and assisting those in need of protection. The National Coordinator against Human Trafficking and Human Smuggling, Erling Hoeve, emphasizes the importance of this campaign, insisting that: "Every report matters, and we urge the public to speak up... your voice can save a life." This campaign follows the conclusion of Sint Maarten's 2024–2025 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) evaluation cycle by the U.S. Department of State. The evaluation was a critical catalyst in launching the "See Something? Say Something!" initiative.

Key stakeholders involved in the campaign include the Ministry of Justice, Police Force of Sint Maarten, Prosecutor's Office Sint Maarten, Immigration and Border Protection Services, Department of Labor Affairs & Social Services, Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, Collective Prevention Services, Victim Support Services, and Pronad Cariben. Ms. Cassandra Richardson of the Victim Support Services is "Honoured to join forces with the NRC and the team in this vital human trafficking awareness campaign… we're committed to shining a light on this urgent issue and extending support to those impacted." National Reporting Center (NRC) and its partners would like the public to know that channels are available to report these crimes. See something? Report any suspicion of human trafficking or smuggling by calling the Unit Mensenhandel/Mensensmokkel at +1 721 542 2222 ext. 614/604. To submit an anonymous tip, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 9300. For general inquiries regarding human trafficking, smuggling, or potential partnerships with the  NRC, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---  Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluid than you take in. During warm weather conditions, you are very thirsty, and therefore it is very important to drink lots of water.

Since it’s the Carnival season with the majority of activities taking place outdoors including the grand parades etc., revellers and onlookers will need to take extra precautions to prevent dehydration.

When the body's normal water content is reduced, it upsets the balance of minerals (salts and sugars), which affects its function.

Collective Prevention Services (CPS) is advising the community to drink lots of water during the Carnival festive season and outdoor activities.

Dehydration is usually caused by insufficient fluids to replace what we lose. The climate with respect to very hot days, at the beach, the amount of physical exercise you are doing (particularly in hot weather) and your diet can contribute to dehydration.

Anyone can become dehydrated, but certain groups are particularly at risk. These include: babies and infants – they have a low body weight and are sensitive to even small amounts of fluid loss; older people – they may be less aware that they are becoming dehydrated and therefore need to keep drinking fluids; people with a long-term health condition – such as diabetes or alcoholism; and athletes – they can lose a large amount of body fluid through sweat when exercising for long periods.

Water makes up over two-thirds of the healthy human body. It lubricates the joints and eyes, aids digestion, flushes out waste and toxins, and keeps the skin healthy.

Some of the early warning signs of dehydration include feeling thirsty and lightheaded; a dry mouth; tiredness; having dark coloured, strong-smelling urine; and passing urine less often than usual.

A baby may be dehydrated if they: have a sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on their head; have few or no tears when they cry; have fewer wet nappies; and are drowsy.

The body is affected even when you lose a small amount of fluid.

CPS advises to drink lots of water to avoid becoming dehydrated.

Consult your physician if you think you or your child is dehydrated.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) urges the population, especially adults, parents, and guardians, to be aware that exposure to loud music can cause hearing damage, especially in young children. As such, it is important to protect them from loud pitches, tones, and, in general, overly loud music.

Avoid these as much as possible and avoid standing in close proximity to speakers of sound trucks.

Noise, like all sounds, is measured by the intensity and frequency of the sound waves that hit the ear. The unit used to measure the volume of sound is the decibel (dB). The greater the number of decibels, the louder the noise and the more harmful it is to the ears.

Environmental noise exposure, such as road traffic, aircraft, and/or sudden high-level noise, is associated with a range of health outcomes in children.

Children demonstrate annoyance responses to noise, and noise is also related to lower well-being and stress responses, such as increased levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline.

Prolonged exposure can result in damage, which can be irreversible, and parents and guardians are advised to pay attention to this during the Carnival parade.

Hearing loss may be mild, moderate, severe, or profound. It can affect one or both ears and make it difficult to hear conversational speech or loud sounds.

CPS advises parents to monitor their children during Carnival activities and ensure that they don’t stand near speakers with loud music, as this could damage the child’s ears.

Please take the following steps to minimize the risks and protect your child from noise's physical and psychological effects: Ensure that he or she wears child-sized hearing protection, such as earplugs or earmuffs, during noisy activities and events. Limit the amount of time spent on noisy activities.

Instruct him or her to walk away from sources of loud noises. If your child routinely participates in noisy activities, such as playing an instrument or attending musical activities or sporting events, have his or her hearing tested.

For more information, call CPS at 542-1122, 542-1222, 542-1322, and 542-1570; or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.