THE HAGUE – Aruba, alongside Curaçao and St. Maarten, will receive additional Dutch support to tackle organized crime, drug trafficking, and corruption. The announcement was made in the Dutch House of Representatives by Minister Foort van Oosten and State Secretary Eddie van Marum.
The islands’ geographic position between Latin America and Europe makes them vulnerable to drug smuggling, arms trafficking, and human trafficking. Their small communities also increase the risk of conflicts of interest. “Undermining blurs the line between the legal and illegal worlds, threatening governance and eroding public trust,” the Dutch ministers noted.
While the islands remain primarily responsible for law enforcement, Aruba and its neighbors face limited manpower and resources. The Netherlands will therefore provide extra capacity, expertise, and funding to strengthen their resilience.
€24 Million Annually for Criminal Investigations
Since 2017, the Netherlands has supported the Joint Criminal Investigation Team (RST), the Public Prosecutors’ Offices, and the Common Court of Justice. Over the coming years, additional resources will be devoted to investigating financial crimes, including money laundering, with €24 million per year allocated for this purpose.
Governance and Integrity Measures
In governance, Aruba will benefit from €1 million annually to strengthen administrative resilience. Initiatives include the Not On Our Island awareness campaign and the creation of an information platform by 2026.
Aruba has already established its Bureau of Integrity in 2021, joining Sint Maarten (Integrity Chamber since 2019) while Curaçao continues to develop its own. The program also introduces stricter political financing rules, screening of ministers, and integrity training for civil servants.
Since 2023, an annual Integrity Summit has been held for Caribbean officials, and by 2026 a Caribbean Knowledge Center on integrity will be launched. Progress will be monitored with support from Transparency International, ensuring global standards in the fight against corruption.
The Dutch government stressed that combating crime and corruption is a long-term commitment, requiring close cooperation with Aruba and the other autonomous Caribbean partners.
