The Netherlands Armed Forces gendarmerie (Koninklijke Marechaussee) has found 11 kilos of cocaine aboard the landing platform dock HNLMS Jophan de Witt following an extensive search.

The search took place just days after the ship returned from a deployment to Dutch Overseas Territories in the Caribbean where it took part in relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Dorian.

The defense ministry explained that the drug raid was related to the arrest of a sailor assigned to the ship in September this year.

The sailor was detained aboard the ship after 11 kilos of drugs were discovered in his backpack. Following his arrest, the military police had indications that more drugs could be hidden on the ship.

In the subsequent operation on October 28, an additional 11 kilos of drugs, presumably cocaine, were found hidden in packages.

Three helicopters embarked aboard the ship and their crews were also searched but no drugs were found.