Or is our organizational capacity actually very strong?

Or is our organizational capacity actually very strong?

April 9, 2026

Then you read a report that a container has been intercepted in Rotterdam containing 1.4 tons of drugs originating from Curaçao. It may be mentioned as a footnote in the local media and quickly disappears from view (NOS, 2026).

It reminds me of a report from a few months ago about a court ruling stating that Curaçao functions as a link in an international money-laundering network (Curaçao.nu, 2025).

In that same light, I see on April 8 that the Drug Enforcement Administration is offering reward money for tips leading to the discovery of drugs (DEA, 2026).

It brings to mind the many periodic scientific studies in which Curaçao plays a significant role in transnational crime (Tweede Kamer, 2024).

It was also once stated by a Minister of Justice that the underworld has penetrated the upper world (Caribisch Netwerk, 2013). We are not unique. In the Netherlands, colleague Prof. Pieter Tops has been working on this systematically for years.

This raises the question of whether the eroding organizational capacity indicates how strong that other world's organizational capacity actually is. Food for thought.

Bronnen (APA)

Caribisch Netwerk. (2013, 12 november). Curaçao in greep georganiseerde misdaad.

Curaçao.nu. (2025). Curaçao fungeerde als schakel in internationaal witwasnetwerk.

Drug Enforcement Administration. (2026). Bericht over tipgeld voor informatie over drugs (Facebookpost, 8 april 2026).

NOS. (2026). 1400 kilo cocaïne gevonden in haven Rotterdam verstopt achter verhuisboedel. https://nos.nl/artikel/2609203-1400-kilo-cocaine-gevonden-in-haven-rotterdam-verstopt-achter-verhuisboedel

Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal. (2024). Rapport over ondermijnende criminaliteit in het Caribisch deel van het Koninkrijk.