Dutch marines deployed to Sint-Maarten following Prime Minister’s request

Dutch marines have been deployed to Sint-Maarten to support local police amid a rise in organized crime. The Dutch Ministry of Defense said marines stationed on Sint-Maarten began assisting the Korps Politie Sint-Maarten on Wednesday, following a formal request from Prime Minister Luc Mercelina.

For the next two weeks, the marines will conduct traffic checks and joint patrols with local police. Defense officials said supporting civilian authorities is a core task of the Dutch military in the Caribbean.

Mercelina requested temporary military assistance during talks in The Hague with caretaker Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof. He asked for help in tackling rising crime, saying organized criminal networks have strengthened on Sint-Maarten in recent months.

The deployment follows earlier operations this year involving Dutch marines. On Feb. 12, they supported police during a search of the Point Blanche Penitentiary Institution. In May, marines were again called in after a fire broke out at the same prison.

Dutch marines are also routinely deployed to maintain public order during natural disasters on Sint-Maarten. They assisted authorities after Hurricane Irma in 2017 and during Tropical Storm Karen in 2019.