Thanks for your comments. I have had some of the same feelings about this case.
After I heard that the Aruba police really had bugged the cell phones of the three, I began to realize that the Aruban police are not as incompetent as I first thought.
It's been reported on this thread that there will be more arrests in this case very soon. I'm surprised about the number of arrests planned. I haven't been able to figure out how so many more could be involved.
I haven't made up my mind about the Aruban police. They certainly missed some valuable opportunities early on, but like you, I think they might be more competent than we think. But I'm not sure. I have decided one thing, however. Even though our media drives me nuts and the details on cases like this often turn out not to be true as reported, NOT having a free press is even worse. The rumor and inuendo that flys down there because the authorities aren't saying anything is far worse than the mistakes that crop up in our own free, and often irresponsible, press.