Royal Netherlands Marechaussee finds foreigners without lawful residence
Over the weekend of 17th and 18th of September, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Koninklijke Marechaussee, KMar) encountered several foreigners staying on Bonaire illegally. On Saturday 17th of September, three undocumented persons were found, presumably from the Dominican Republic. On Sunday, three persons were found near Sorobon, one of them was in the possession of an Ecuadorian passport. This person was also not in possession of a residency status on Bonaire.
In the early morning of Saturday 17th of September, KMar received a report of a suspicious situation in which three persons had been found near Laguna Beach. In cooperation with the Dutch Caribbean Police Force (Korps Politie Caribisch Nederland, KPCN), the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee responded to the report. At the scene, the situation was examined and it was assessed whether first aid was needed. The three persons were in good health according to the circumstances. When it emerged that the three could not clarify exactly where and how they had landed, the KMar took the three, presumably Dominicans, to the station for further investigation. The foreigners have since been transferred to the Netherlands Caribbean Correctional Institution (Justitiële Inrichting Caribisch Nederland, JICN). There they remain in aliens custody during further investigation.
On Sunday, 18th of September, officers of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee again encountered three persons during a patrol, near Sorobon. At the time, the three persons were swimming in an area where it is prohibited. Upon checking the three persons, it was found that one of them did not have a lawful residence on the island. The man, who held an Ecuadorian passport, was also taken to the JICN, where he now remains pending his deportation.
The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee monitors the security of the Caribbean Netherlands' borders, both at airports and at the islands' water borders. By combating illegal border crossings and cross-border crime, it contributes to security on the islands.