CuraƧao is Paradise
- mpgoede
- Jan 16
- 1 min read
CuraƧao is Paradise
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19 January 2026
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CuraƧao has increasingly acquired the image of being the ultimate holiday island. But appearances can be deceiving, because those who look more closely will see another CuraƧao.
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An island that serves as a hub for criminal moneyĀ flows within an international network of underground banking and money laundering (Curacao.nu, 2026). This emerges from rulings by the District Court of Overijssel, which sentenced several suspects to long prison terms for large-scale money laundering and participation in a criminal organization.
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In addition, Antilliaans DagbladĀ refers to CuraƧao as a link in cocaine smugglingĀ to the Netherlands. A report by the Research and Data Centre of the Ministry of Justice (WODC) identifies the island as an air-transport transit and departure point (Antilliaans Dagblad, 16 January 2026).
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This creates the image of an island through which large amounts of drugs and illicit money flow and circulate. That money has to end up somewhere and undoubtedly finds its way into the real estate market. This partly explains the strong growth in this sector, at the expense of young people and of what once was the middle class ā and those below it.
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It is important that we continue to see the island in its full reality, not only its paradisiacal surface.
Miguel Goede
References
Curacao.nu. (2026). CuraƧao fungeerde als schakel in internationaal witwasnetwerk. https://www.curacao.nu/nieuws/veiligheid-openbare-orde/84516/curacao-fungeerde-als-schakel-in-internationaal-witwasnetwerk
Antilliaans Dagblad. (2026, 16 januari). CuraƧao schakel cokesmokkel NL; Rapport WODC: Via luchtvaart doorvoer- en vertrekpunt.