A Haitian vessel transporting illegal migrants was intercepted by officers of the Marine Branch of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force during the early hours of yesterday morning (February 05th).
Based on information received, at around 9 pm, the Marine Branch, acting on the information provided by the Coastal Radar Station intercepted a 35ft light blue sailboat.
The vessel refused to adhere to instructions issued by police officers to stop. Officers engaged in a number of tactical maneuvers forcing the illegal vessel to stop.
The vessel was subsequently towed to Caicos Marine and Shipyard where a total of SIXTY-NINE (69) illegal migrants- FORTY-SEVEN males and TWENTY-TWO females -were handed over to the Immigration Task Force. The vessel was handed over to Customs officials.
This is the sixth interception for the year.
Additionally, during a joint operation which commenced yesterday (February 05th) the Marine Branch alongside the Tactical Unit, TCI Regiment and Immigration, responded to a report of illegal migrants in West Caicos.
SIXTY-SEVEN illegal migrants (FIFTY-ONE males and SIXTEEN females were detained and transported to Providenciales.
Today (February 06th), during a continuation of the same operation, TWENTY-ONE illegal migrants were detained. (EIGHT females, THIRTEEN males and ONE minor).
The public is being advised to notify the closest police station or to contact Crime Stoppers and give any information about illegal activity anonymously.
Please note, that Crime Stoppers calls are answered in Miami and in Houston by Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers which is a non-profit and not a police agency.
The calls are anonymous and cannot be traced in the United States or the TCI.