Urvin 'Nuto' Wawoe Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in Sint Maarten for Gang Leadership and Multiple Assassinations

Life Sentence Handed Down in High-Profile Case

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten – Urvin 'Nuto' Wawoe, a figure widely identified as a leader of the notorious No Limit Soldiers (NLS) gang, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a judge of the Court of First Instance on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. The severe penalty, the highest possible under the Dutch justice system, concludes a high-security trial that captivated the region.

Wawoe was found guilty of a range of serious offenses, including ordering multiple cold-blooded assassinations, engaging in large-scale drug trafficking, and leading a criminal organization. The indictment against him comprised more than a dozen separate charges.

Details of the Convictions

The court found Urvin 'Nuto' Wawoe responsible for orchestrating several violent acts across Dutch St. Maarten, French St. Martin, and Curaçao between 2014 and 2017. Specific convictions include:

• The murder of Kevin 'Bones' Metura in French Cul-de-Sac on February 7, 2016.
• The murder of A.R.L. 'Nino' Browne-Thewet at his car wash in Sucker Garden on March 14, 2017.
• The attempted murder of Kimoy Gumbs in French Quarter on April 8, 2016.
• The attempted murders of Thaddeus 'Static' Nunes and his twin brother Marini 'Addict' Nunes in Philipsburg on November 5, 2016.

Prosecutors argued that many of these retaliatory killings were ordered by Wawoe following the murder of his girlfriend, Latoya 'Nuta' Flanders, who was gunned down on November 5, 2015. It was suggested that her death occurred because his enemies could not reach him while he was incarcerated in a Dutch jail.

Evidence presented during the trial included secretly-recorded conversations of Wawoe from prison and data recovered from encrypted messaging systems like PGP Safe.

The 'Themis' Trial and Security Measures

The trial, known as the 'Themis' case, was a complex and high-profile proceeding that took place at the Suffisant Marine Barracks in Curaçao from June 23 to July 4, 2025. The unusual venue was chosen due to significant security concerns and the need to avoid disrupting regular judicial operations.

Dutch military personnel were deployed to provide enhanced security throughout the two-week trial, with measures including around-the-clock surveillance and protection of the airspace. Wawoe, who was arrested in the Dominican Republic in 2021 and subsequently extradited, consistently denied the accusations, claiming 'I never ordered anyone to be killed' and that NLS was merely a music label. However, the prosecution dismissed this as a cover story for his extensive criminal network.

While found guilty of most murder accusations, drug trafficking, and gang leadership, Wawoe was acquitted of orchestrating the Hato shooting on July 15, 2014.