WILLEMSTAD - Justice authorities in Curaçao have stopped arresting drug mules who have swallowed so-called 'bolitas' due to the bad hygienic situation at the police station in Willemstad.

 

According to reports, suspected bolita swallowers are no longer arrested at Hato airport and are allowed to fly to Amsterdam or to Düsseldorf in Germany. Curaçao authorities do provide the names of these suspects to their Dutch and German colleagues so they can be arrested upon arrival.

The decision to no longer arrest drug mules comes after the Curaçao Health Department GGD forbid the holding of drug mules with bolitas at the main police station where they were held until they had excreted the drugs. The neglected situation at the police station has been a cause for concern for a while.

 

During an international investigation of the detention circumstances earlier this year it became clear that the sewage system isn't properly functioning. This is causing an enormous stench. Also, there is barely any day light and ventilation in the cell complex.

 

A part of the property next to the police station is being used as a waste disposal site where old airconditioners and fridges are dumped. Regular suspects are no longer being held at the police station.

 

Shortly after this news was published, the Dutch media reported that Curaçao is planning the construction of a temporary cell complex for bolita swallowers this month. The Netherlands will provide a special toilet for these mules, a spokesperson of the Dutch Ministry of Safety and Justice confirmed.

 

The spokesperson emphasized that Curaçao was and remained responsible for the combating of the drug trade on the island. The spokesperson couldn't confirm that bolita swallowers are indeed allowed to travel to the Netherlands. Justice authorities in Curaçao are still arresting departing passengers who try to smuggle drugs to Europe in their suitcase and underneath their clothing.

 

Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Ard Van der Steur of the Dutch liberal democratic VVD party fears that the decision to no longer arrest mules with bolitas will result in an increase in traffic to the Netherlands.

 

According to Van der Steur, the increased number of bolita swallowers reaching the Netherlands will place added pressure on the Dutch justice system. He called it "unacceptable" that Curaçao is unable to maintain the law and submitted written questions to Dutch Minister of Safety and Justice Ivo Opstelten on Tuesday.

 

Van der Steur asked the minister to interfere. "What can you do to reverse this decision," he asked. He also wanted to know what measures the minister would be taking to effectively combat a possible increase in the number of bolita swallowers entering the Netherlands. He further asked for figures of the number of drug mules from Curaçao being arrested in the Netherlands.