The Aruba illegal firearm surrender campaign will officially begin on March 24, 2026, and continue until April 24, 2026, according to an announcement from the Aruba Police Force and the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The campaign, launched under the message “Surrender it or we will come for it,” forms part of an inter-island initiative involving police forces across the Dutch Caribbean in cooperation with the Council of Police Chiefs and Public Prosecutor’s Offices in Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten.
Authorities said the Aruba illegal firearm surrender campaign is aimed at reducing serious incidents linked to illegal firearms. Police and prosecutors emphasized that illegal gun possession contributes to violence and creates a strong sense of insecurity in the community. Under the law, anyone found in possession of an illegal firearm can be arrested and sentenced by a judge, and some individuals have received prison terms for firearm possession alone.
Officials also noted that some people may want to get rid of an illegal firearm but are afraid to hand it over directly to police because they fear arrest or questioning. For that reason, this campaign offers an opportunity to surrender illegal firearms, ammunition, and firearm parts anonymously during the set period.
As part of the Aruba illegal firearm surrender campaign, people can use the blue container located above the bridge near the San Nicolas police station. Authorities said the location for the area below the bridge will be announced in the coming days. Anyone who surrenders an illegal firearm, bullets, or firearm parts during the campaign period will not face criminal prosecution and may remain anonymous.
Police warned that once the campaign ends, anyone found with an illegal firearm will be criminally prosecuted. The public is being urged to package weapons or firearm parts safely before surrendering them in order to prevent accidents.
The Aruba illegal firearm surrender campaign is being presented as an important public safety measure, and authorities are encouraging residents to make the right decision by turning in illegal weapons before enforcement actions follow.
