Last night, November 13th, officers from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RT&CIPF) Maritime Operations Unit detected a suspicious vessel within TCI waters several miles off Bird Rock, Long Bay, Providenciales.
Maritime officers were immediately dispatched to investigate.
Upon arrival at the coordinated location, officers observed a vessel in shallow waters close to shore, with several individuals seen jumping overboard. Additional land support was promptly deployed to assist in the ongoing operation.
The Marine team successfully apprehended NINE individuals from the vessel who appeared to be illegal migrants. The group included four males (including two minors) and five adult females (including one minor).
The vessel subsequently sank in the area; however, officers conducted thorough checks to ensure no casualties.
All individuals were safely transported to the Marine Base and handed to the Immigration Department for processing.
While at the scene, several persons were concealed in the bushes along a nearby trail. In a coordinated response, officers secured all access points from the beach to the main road, maintaining control of the area until daylight.
The TCI Regiment and Border Force joined our efforts, augmenting the response alongside other RT&CIPF units.
At approximately 6 a.m. today, while officers continued to secure the scene, a 48-year-old male resident of Five Cays was observed walking in the area. Upon questioning, he failed to provide a valid reason for his presence and was found in possession of tools and a substantial quantity of
packaged food. The male has no legal status on the island and was handed over to Immigration authorities.
Acting Commissioner of Police Kendall Grant commended the swift and coordinated response of all units involved, including the Maritime Operations Unit, Drone Unit, TCI Regiment, Border Force, and the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources.
Mr. Grant emphasized the RT&CIPF’s unwavering commitment to securing the Turks and Caicos Islands’ borders and ensuring the safety of its residents.
We are asking anyone with information that may help in these investigations to contact the closest police station, 911, the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 to provide any information anonymously. Additionally, individuals are encouraged to download the Crime Stoppers P3 app to share information.