2 men arrested for operating drone

Two Brazilian brothers on Monday night were arrested in Paramaribo-North because they were operating a drone via a remote. The men were charged with participating in a crime organization, eavesdropping and theft.

Their lawyer, Michella Lau-Kerssenberg, made it clear that her clients were not breaking the law. The police reportedly told the suspects that they had flown their drone over the house of the minister of Justice and Police. The suspects claim that they do not know the minister and that they also do not know where he lives. The attorney pointed out that the brothers have been living legally in Suriname for the past twenty years and that they have never had a run-in with the law. Flying drones became their hobby about six years ago.

The brothers own two drones which they fly in the area where they live. They were caught by surprise by a heavily armed police unit between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. The drone was still in the air when the policemen showed up on their doorstep. Lau-Kerssenberg made it clear that operating drones is not punishable by law and that operating a drone at night only causes a reflection of the street lights. The relatives reportedly told Lau-Kerssenberg that the brothers were ordered to climb over their neighbor’s fence before getting down on the ground. The brothers did not understand what was going on and they are reportedly still in shock. Lau-Kerssenberg pointed out that the police searched the house but that they did not find any weapons or forbidden stuff. She also pointed out that her clients are not part of a crime organization. Lau-Kerssenberg is currently considering the legal options. She pointed out that “what happened to the brothers is unacceptable.”