WILLEMSTAD – The Court of Curaçao has sentenced 44-year-old Urvin Wawoe, better known as “Nuto,” to life imprisonment for his role as leader of the criminal organization No Limit Soldiers (NLS). The verdict, delivered Monday, marks one of the heaviest sentences in Curaçao’s recent judicial history.
The trial, which began on June 23 and concluded on July 3, took place in a specially secured courtroom at the Suffisant Marine Barracks. Wawoe was defended by a team of three lawyers, including Alicia Blonk, while the prosecution was represented by three anonymous prosecutors from the Public Prosecution Service.
A Conviction of Historic Weight
Although Wawoe was acquitted in the notorious Hato Airport shooting of 2011 due to insufficient evidence, the court found overwhelming proof linking him to multiple assassinations, large-scale drug trafficking, and organized crime activities. A crucial element in the case was intercepted communication via the encrypted Sky ECC messaging service, which prosecutors argued provided clear insight into his role as a decision-maker within NLS.
The Public Prosecution Service had demanded life imprisonment, alleging that Wawoe was responsible for more than ten murders, the smuggling of 340 kilos of cocaine, illegal arms trading, and money laundering. While the court did not adopt every single accusation, it ruled that the crimes proven against him fully justified the maximum sentence.
Criminal Leadership from Behind Bars
The court also concluded that Wawoe remained active in NLS operations even after his imprisonment. Following the murder of his partner Latoya, he allegedly continued giving orders from behind bars, directing assassinations and coordinating drug-related activities.
Defense to Appeal
Throughout the proceedings, Wawoe consistently denied being a member of NLS or having any involvement in the killings. His defense team, led by attorney Alicia Blonk, has already announced plans to appeal the life sentence.
The ruling against Wawoe is seen as a landmark case in the Kingdom’s fight against organized crime, particularly given the group’s violent reputation on both Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
