Assistant Commissioner of Police (Specialist Tactical Operations), Mat Newton, reported the interception of two illegal vessels transporting a total of 287 irregular migrants between April 5th and April 6th, 2024, in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
On April 5th, acting on information from the United States Air Asset, authorities intercepted a vessel carrying 30 irregular migrants and six puppies. The vessel, equipped with stolen speedboat engines from Providenciales, was intercepted with the assistance of the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources and the TCI Regiment. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) Marine Branch towed the vessel ashore, where the occupants were handed over to Immigration for processing.
The following day, on April 6th, authorities were alerted to a suspected sloop near Inagua and South of West Caicos. The Bahamas Defense Coast Guard intercepted the vessel in Inagua, discovering 257 irregular migrants onboard, consisting of 218 males and 39 females.
ACP Newton emphasized the need for comprehensive approaches to combat smuggling and trafficking across borders, highlighting the cooperation of local, regional, and international partners in disrupting illegal crossings. He underscored the importance of swift action and stringent enforcement measures to deter such activities and ensure border security.
The RTCIPF urged the public to report any illegal activity to the nearest police station, contact 911, the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477. Additionally, individuals were encouraged to use the CrimeStoppers P3 app to share information anonymously.
