13 new arrests linked to harbouring and landing of illegal migrants, Natl Security bosses flown to meeting on Mounts Bay

#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – March 20, 2018 –  National Security bosses of the Turks and Caicos were this morning flown out of Provo to meet with Commanding Officer of RFA Mounts Bay, Captain David Buck and his team as they gear up for an historic maneuver where the #MountsBay crew will pair with Turks and Caicos law enforcement to quell the surge in illegal Haitian migration, by boat, to the territory.

A photograph provided by the #RoyalTurksandCaicosIslandsPolice gave a peak into what was happening this morning.

“Happening now, Acting Governor Her Excellency Anya Williams and Commission (of Police) James Smith headed to RFA Mounts Bay.”

On Friday, during an emergency press conference, it was announced that the UK had assented to both naval and aerial support given the unprecedented level of arrivals of illegal sloops on Providenciales.  Five boats, originating from Haiti managed to make it to shore, undetected, over a week.  Two boats, spotted at sea by the US Coast Guard, were turned back to Haiti.  

It is unclear how many Haitians may have landed but Deputy Commissioner of Police, Trevor Botting in the Friday press conference confirmed that Police are confident the boats were also very likely laden with illegal contraband.

“Whenever there is trafficking, there is very rarely a single issue; it is very rarely  just people, just drugs or anything else. In my professional view it is hihghly likely but I am not going to go into too much  detail around that operation but your question highlights the risk to this country.”

Mounts Bay, which had been very helpful in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria returned to the Turks and Caicos on Monday and is moored off the island of Grand Turk, the Capital of the Turks and Caicos which is a British overseas territory in the Caribbean.

By Monday afternoon, the vessel, named ‘Ship of the Year’ by the British Navy arrived and was welcomed by the Governor’s Office and the Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands via media releases issued on March 19, 2018. 

OpBAT which is the short name for Operation Bahamas and Turks and Caicos remains active and is a tripartite agreement which includes the US Coast Guard.

TCI Police today informed of 13 arrests linked to harbouring illegal migrants and capture of illegal migrants following two more unauthorized sloop arrivals from Haiti over the weekend.

In one instance, a Haitian woman was said to be found lying in the street after living in bushes for five days.  The woman was taken to hospital.