Suspect in Peter R. de Vries Murder Arrested in Curacao

Authorities in Curacao have detained a man suspected of a leading role in the murder of crime reporter Peter R. de Vries. The Dutch Public Prosecution Service announced the arrest, stating the 39-year-old man was apprehended in Willemstad. He is believed to have been involved in a criminal organization that orchestrated the violence, including the murder of De Vries.

The murder of De Vries occurred in July 2021 on a busy Amsterdam street, sparking widespread grief and concern about organized crime's influence in the Netherlands. Last year, a Dutch court sentenced three primary suspects in the murder to lengthy prison terms. The organizer of the hit received a 30-year sentence, while two others were sentenced to 28 years. Additional individuals received sentences ranging from 10 to 14 years for their involvement.

The latest suspect, a Dutch national born in Curacao, has been incarcerated on the island since 2014. The prosecution service stated that detectives continued their investigation into those who ordered the hit on De Vries. The man emerged as a suspect during the investigation into the higher levels of the criminal organization. He will soon be transferred to the Netherlands to appear before a judge.

De Vries was a prominent crime journalist known for his reporting and a bestselling book about the 1983 kidnapping of Freddy Heineken. He also campaigned to resolve cold cases and won an Emmy for his coverage of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Later, he hosted his own crime program on television.

Prosecutors believed the murder was linked to De Vries's role as an advisor to a witness against drug kingpin Ridouan Taghi. However, the court ruled that a definitive link could not be established between that case and the de Vries murder trial. De Vries had previously been informed by authorities that he was on a hit-list drawn up by Taghi, who received a life sentence for murders committed by his gang. During the 2022 trial, close-circuit television footage showed the moment De Vries was shot.