What Crew Members Say About Zeearend

On December 2, 2023, during a routine patrol approximately 55 kilometers west of IJmuiden, the Dutch patrol vessel 'Zeearend' came across a sailing yacht heading towards England. Upon conducting a check of the yacht, the crew discovered ten individuals hidden in the cabin after a hatch was opened with consent from the two onboard crew members. The vessel was promptly seized, and the migrant individuals, hailing from various nationalities, were subsequently placed into the immigration process. The two crew members, a 39-year-old from Den Helder and a 29-year-old without a permanent residence, are suspected of smuggling and will remain in custody for the time being. Their pre-trial detention has been extended for a minimum of 60 days after the North Holland District Court's council chamber rejected their request for suspension of the detention.