WILLEMSTAD:--- At the request of the Governor of Curaçao, Defense provided hard military assistance in Curaçao from June 22 to July 5. This assistance took place in the context of facilitating a hearing location and the intensive security measures surrounding the hearing in the so-called Themis case. The hearing was held at Suffisant Marine Barracks and was characterized as a high-profile and high-risk event. Various military units, such as the Marine Squadron Carib, the Company in the West, Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS), Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service Defense and the Royal Military Police supported the Curacao Police Force.
Due to the seriousness and sensitivity of the case, the safety measures associated with Alert State C, a heightened state of readiness, have been applied. Intensive security and surveillance are deployed 24 hours a day, both at and around the barracks. This included patrols inside and outside the premises and surveillance of the airspace above the naval barracks.
First for enforcement action against drones
A special aspect of this operation was the deployment of the Marine Corps Counter-UAS team. For the first time, this unit was not only deployed for detection and shielding, but was also actually authorized to take enforcement action. This meant that drones that entered the airspace above Suffisant Marine Barracks, which had been declared a no-fly zone, were jammed and thus put out of action. On average, 10 drones are neutralized in this way per day.
A total of approximately 120 soldiers, police officers and civilian employees are deployed per day to ensure safety. In addition, approximately 30 people were present every day who were involved in the substantive handling of the case: court officials, the Public Prosecution Service, lawyers, the suspect, surviving relatives, family members, press and other visitors.
Defense's deployment took place in close cooperation with local security partners and proceeded without significant incidents. This has made an important contribution to the safe conduct of a case that is receiving national and regional attention. Providing military assistance falls under the third main task of Defense in the Caribbean.