Sint-Maarten requests Dutch military aid to combat rising crime

Premier Luc Mercelina of Sint-Maarten formally requested temporary military assistance from Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on Monday in The Hague. Mercelina cited a rising wave of organized crime on the island and said additional security measures are necessary to protect residents.

One of the most notable events occurred Saturday night, when four masked men dressed in black violently robbed a jewelry store in a busy entertainment district. Witnesses captured the robbery on video and shared it widely on social media, fueling public alarm.

“The aim of the military support is to reassure the people of Sint-Maarten that all necessary steps are being taken to maintain national and public safety,” Mercelina said.

Sint-Maarten’s Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling condemned the robbery, calling it ‘an attack on the rule of law.’ Addressing those responsible, she said: ‘You will be tracked down, you will be prosecuted, and you will face the consequences. These acts are not signs of bravery. They are crimes, and they will be stopped.’