KRALENDIJK-The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee have arrested two suspects at Bonaire International Airport on suspicion of human smuggling. This was announced by the Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland on Tuesday.
It concerns a 34-year-old and 49-year-old man, in two cases that are not related. One suspect was arrested on 21 July, the other on 23 July.
The suspects arrived, separately from each other, at the airport to pick up a passenger from South America. The two travelers from South America reported to the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee as tourists, but after the access control, there were strong suspicions that the passengers came to Bonaire to work illegally for the person who came to pick them up. Both South Americans did not have a work permit.
It is not allowed to assist passengers to enter Bonaire illegally. “It often happens that residents of Bonaire are not well aware of the conditions that are necessary for a foreign national to work legally on Bonaire. This can lead to a suspicion of human smuggling, as stated in the BES Criminal Code,” according to the press release.
Investigations into the two suspects are still ongoing. The men are not detained during the investigation.
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