An anti-drug operation by Zr. Ms. Groningen turned into a search for three missing persons in the Caribbean Sea near the ABC Islands in the early morning of June 4, 2024. The three persons went missing this morning after the go-fast on which they were traveling caught fire and sank. The three have since been searched for by both sea and airborne units of the Caribbean Defense Force, Caribbean Coast Guard and U.S. Coast Guard.
Zr.Ms. Groningen received a report of a suspicious go-fast near the ABC Islands in the early morning of June 4. In response, Zr.Ms. Groningen launched two FRISC’s boats (fast interception craft) to intercept the suspicious go-fast. During the action, the crew of one of the FRISC’s was forced to fire in the direction of the go-fast in self-defense. The go-fast burst into flames and began to sink, and the three suspected smugglers on board have since been missing. Zr.Ms. Groningen immediately launched a so-called Search and Rescue (SAR) operation. In addition to Zr.Ms. Groningen, since this morning Zr.Ms. Pelikaan, an American Helicopter of the USCG and a Search and Rescue helicopter and cutter of the Coast Guard Caribbean are also supporting the search for the three missing persons. The Coast Guard cutter Jaguar took over the search operation from Zr.Ms. Groningen in the afternoon of June 4. The Royal Military Police is launching an investigation into the incident.
HNLMS Groningen is the station ship in the Caribbean and is deployed for anti-drug operations with an embarked USCG law enforcement detachment.
