In the morning of April 3rd, in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, the Dutch frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën managed to intercept more than 250 kilos of cocaine. The operation was a successful collaboration between the Dutch, Belgian and American units, operating from the Dutch frigate. The action took place in the framework of the international counter-drugs operation Carib Venture, led by the Commander Netherlands Forces in the Caribbean. HNLMS De Zeven Provincien did two previous interceptions the past month, of 400 and 600 kilos of cocaine.
After receiving a notification of an American patrol aircraft about a suspicious sailing vessel, HNLMS Zeven Provinciën sailed to the designated location for interception. Just before sunset the ship came into position and during the night it became clear that there was contraband on board. On Sunday morning the sailing vessel was searched by a team of the US Coast Guard which is embarked on HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën for these cases. During their search they found more than 250 kilos of cocaine. It is believed that the only person on board the sailboat threw part of the contraband overboard. During the operation, the Belgian helicopter, the Alouette III flew above the area to monitor the sailboat and surroundings for suspicious activity. The sailing vessel, the suspect and the contraband have been transferred to the US Coast Guard.