ORANJESTAD:--- From 10 to 14 November 2025, analysts, intelligence officers, and investigators from all countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, including the Caribbean Netherlands, worked side by side in a single space to address firearms-related crime. The result: sufficient intelligence to launch three criminal investigations in the short term, ten intelligence products, and a more detailed understanding of the firearms crisis across the Caribbean.
This second edition, dubbed War Room 2.0, focused on analysing Kingdom-wide patterns in the transport, trade, possession, and use of firearms. Local and international information sources were combined and supplemented with open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques and advanced analysis tools. Launched by the Board of Chiefs of Police of the Dutch Caribbean, the event was organized by the Inter-Island Information Coordination Platform (IICP) in collaboration with the Dutch National Police. This initiative builds on the success of the pilot held in March 2025.
Participants included representatives from the five police forces within the Kingdom, the Special Police Task Force (RST), the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard. The Public Prosecution Service was closely involved as well.
The event was officially opened by Minister Dowers, Aruba’s Minister of Justice, together with Chief of Police Ramon Arnhem of the Aruba Police Force, who spoke on behalf of the Board of Chiefs of Police. Minister Dowers expressed appreciation for the continuation of the initiative and stressed the importance of maintaining momentum: “It is not always easy to start such projects — let alone to sustain them over time,” he noted, adding that he looks forward to the deliverables produced during this edition.
Chief Arnhem highlighted the importance of regional cooperation: “We are honored to host this second edition in Aruba. It is not only a privilege for the Aruba Police Force but also a sign of confidence in the partnerships we have built over the years with our sister islands and Kingdom partners.”
Rafiek Dinmohamed, coordinator of the IICP, reflected on the platform’s evolution: “When we started the IICP in 2024, it began with a vision — a belief that police cooperation between islands, or rather between countries, must be possible. Since then, we’ve grown step by step into a dedicated inter-island intelligence team that collaborates daily, shares information, and produces actionable intelligence products that contribute to fighting crime across our Kingdom.”
The initiative took place against the backdrop of an escalating firearms crisis in the Caribbean. The possession and use of firearms have visibly increased in recent years. The urgency of the issue was underscored when a serious firearms-related incident occurred during the week of the War Room. Participants immediately mobilized to assess which relevant intelligence could be brought together.
The analysis conducted during the War Room revealed clear patterns. There is a strong interconnection between firearms and drugs. The guns–drugs–gangs dynamic—long observed in the region—was once again confirmed. Multiple individuals were found to be operating across the Kingdom using similar routes, facilitators, and logistical networks. In addition to new leads, the analysis uncovered data that are directly relevant to ongoing criminal investigations that are directly relevant to ongoing criminal investigations.
The War Room demonstrates what true collaboration looks like when it moves beyond rhetoric into concrete action. While the first edition marked the start of a new phase in Kingdom-wide cooperation, the second edition proves that this method of working is now solidly embedded and producing results. A follow-up edition is already being planned for next year, with the aim of engaging CARICOM IMPACS and broadening regional cooperation even further.