Crime

Murder, Human Trafficking, Interceptions, Gun Arrests & Theft Charges from TCI Police

Published

3 years ago

May 12, 2022

Man Murdered in Grand Turk; Homicide count to SEVEN for TCI

May 9^th, At around 5:10am this morning, Monday 9th May 2022, a body of a man was found in Back Salina, Grand Turk. Given what is known so far, a murder investigation has been launched by RTCIPF Serious Crime Detectives.

ILLEGAL MIGRANTS MAKE MOTHER’S DAY LANDING in PROVO

May 8, At about 12:30 am on Sunday 8th May 2022 it was established that a sloop had landed at North west Point when a boat was found on the shore. It is believed, at this stage, that whilst the vessel was detected by the Coastal Rader Station, the vessel was too close to the coast to be intercepted by the RTCIPF Marine Branch, despite the Police Boat being in the area at the time.

A number of what are believed to be illegal migrants were seen on land in the North West point area. The Police and Immigration Enforcement were deployed to the area and the operation continues to locate and detain any persons from the landed vessel.

Police INTERCEPT second Sloop on Mother’s Day near Provo, THREE Children aboard

May 8, At around 8:30pm on Sunday 8th May 2022, the Coastal Radar Station alerted the Police Control.

Room that they were tracking a target seven miles off the coast of Providenciales.

The RTCIPF Marine Branch subsequently intercepted a boat carrying suspect illegal migrants at just after 9pm. The vessel and persons were detained and brought into South Dock. Forty-nine (49) persons, including three (3) children were handed over the Immigration Enforcement Team and taken to the Immigration Detention Centre

THIEF CAUGHT WITH STOLEN GOODS

May 9^th, On Monday 9th May 2022, 31-year-old Wolbert Fergusson of Kew Town Providenciales, was formally charged with the offence of Burglary.

The offence was committed at an office located on the Leeward Highway.

The crime was solved shortly after it was committed, due to the vigilance and initiative of two off-duty Police Detectives who saw the suspect walking on the roadway, carrying a backpack in the early hours of Saturday 7th May, 2022.

The officers apprehended the man and conducted a stop and search on his person and the backpack. During the search, the officers discovered what appeared to be stolen goods.

Checks were made at buildings in the area for signs of a burglary, and a shattered glass window was discovered at an office building nearby.

Further inquiries were carried out which confirmed that the recovered items, were property that had been left secured in the office.

The off-duty Police officers are commended for their vigilance, which resulted in the arrest of the offender and the recovery of the stolen property.

The defendant appeared in court on Wednesday 11th May 2022.

PROVO MAN AGREES TO SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR GUN & AMMO

May 9^th, Leonardo Forbes of Blue Hills Providenciales was on Monday 9th May 2022, sentenced to seven (7) years in prison after he pleaded guilty to three counts of Keeping Firearms and Keeping Ammunition.

The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on November 1st, 2021, when police received a report of a male being shot to the face in Blue Hills, Providenciales. Police responded to the location and commenced investigations that included the execution of a firearms warrant on the home of Forbes by RTCIPF Officers. Three (3) illegal handguns and 104 rounds of assorted ammunition were recovered.

Forbes was subsequently formally charged for Keeping Firearms and Keeping Ammunition, as well as, Inflicting Grievous Bodily Harm on another male. The latter charge was withdrawn as the victim requested no action against the accused. The matter has now concluded after a successful prosecution that secured a conviction.

Management of the Criminal Investigations Department expresses gratitude and commends the teams of officers from the various units for excellent teamwork and initiative; which resulted in Leonardo Forbes being successfully prosecuted and convicted but more importantly, the removal of three illegal firearms and over one hundred rounds of ammunition from the community.

US Coast Guard foils illegal entry of over 200 Illegal Migrants from Haiti

May 9, At around 9:15am Monday 9th May 2022, a sloop, believed to be heading to the Turks and Caicos Islands was identified by our close law enforcement partners, the US Coastguard around 21 miles south of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The RTCIPF Marine Branch was deployed and the Immigration Enforcement were informed. However, the vessel was intercepted by a US Coastguard Cutter and the persons on board will be repatriated back to Haiti. The total number of persons on board was 212.

Commissioner of Police, Trevor Botting said, “I am grateful to our close collaborative partners from the US Coastguard who intercepted this large vessel which was believed to be headed to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Through working together with the USCG and colleagues from the Bahamas Defence Force, we are deploying a strong collaborative defence of the borders and territorial waters of the TCI, Bahamas and the US.”

Interception thanks to Coastal Radar, 129 Haitians stopped

MAY 12^th, at about 12:09am on Thursday 12th May 2022 the Coastal Radar Station detected a suspicious vessel around 6.7miles south of Providenciales and started to track it. Immediately, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force Marine Branch made their way to the location and safely intercepted a vessel carrying irregular migrants. Following the stabilization of the boat, that was unsafe, taking on water and ensuring that the migrants were safe, the RTCIPF marine unit towed the boat to South Dock where its 129 passengers, 100 males and 29 females were safely unloaded.

They were then taken into custody by the Immigration Department.

Whilst managing this situation the Marine Branch were also dispatched to a second suspicious vessel, however as they intercepted it they found it to be local fishermen returning home.

Superintendent Martyn Ball said, “Once again we have safely intercepted another vessel that was overcrowded, unsafe and risking the lives of those on board. Again this demonstrates the professionalism and dedication of the Coastal Radar Station Team, the RTCIPF Marine Unit and our Immigration colleagues, working together to save lives and keep our borders here in the Turks and Caicos safe. I Would appeal to anyone if you have any information relating to such activity that you call Crime Stoppers free and anonymously on 1-800-8477, not only will you be saving lives but also supporting our national security.”

Related Topics:#illegalsloopsintercepted #magneticmedianews #tcicrimereport

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Bermuda Shaken by Targeted Murder as Crime Returns After a Decade of Calm

Published

1 month ago

September 21, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

Bermuda is reeling after the brazen murder of 37-year-old Janae Minors, a mother of two, who was gunned down in her own beauty supply store on Court Street, Pembroke. The attack, which police describe as “targeted,” has rattled the island, not only for its brutality but for what it says about the state of law and order in a country that less than a decade ago was celebrating a dramatic fall in violent crime.

The Attack on Court Street

According to police, at approximately 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16, a lone gunman pulled up on a stolen black motorcycle, walked into the Beauty Monster shop Minors owned, and shot her multiple times. Despite the rapid response of emergency services, she succumbed to her injuries shortly after being transported to hospital.

Detectives say the killer was thin, tall, dressed in dark clothing with a full-face helmet, and wearing bright gloves. CCTV shows him fleeing north on Court Street, down Tills Hill toward TCD, before turning onto Marsh Folly Road. Investigators are pursuing all leads, with a focus on recovering evidence from nearby cameras and eyewitness accounts.

Police Commissioner Darrin Simons confirmed the attack bore the hallmarks of gang-related violence, a chilling indicator that Bermuda’s gang rivalries — long simmering beneath the surface — may once again be spilling into broad daylight.

A Vibrant Life Cut Short

Minors, remembered as a hardworking entrepreneur with “a vibrant, beautiful personality,” leaves behind two children, ages 16 and 18. Her murder has ignited outrage across Bermuda, not just for its senselessness but for its timing: the island had once prided itself on virtually stamping out gun violence.

Then: Near-Zero Murders

Back in 2014, Bermuda made international headlines for reporting zero firearm murders — a remarkable achievement given the small island had endured a spate of gang-related shootings in the early 2010s. Police credited intelligence-led operations, tighter firearms interdictions, and aggressive prosecutions of gang leaders. Community programs and mentoring initiatives also played a role, giving at-risk youth alternatives to gang life.

By 2015 and 2016, gun crime was at historic lows. That period was hailed as proof Bermuda could beat back the tide of violence with coordinated policing, social investment, and political will.

Now: Alarming Resurgence

Fast forward nine years, and the picture looks starkly different. In 2024 and 2025, Bermuda has recorded a rise in gun-related deaths. Rival gangs such as Parkside and 42 have resurged, fueled by a new generation of recruits. Economic pressures, high youth unemployment, and the easy flow of smuggled firearms through maritime routes have undermined earlier gains.

Community trust in the police has also eroded, making investigations harder and retaliations more likely. Opposition MPs and neighborhood leaders warn that without sustained focus, Bermuda risks sliding back into the violent cycles of the early 2010s.

Public Alarm and Political Pressure

Premier David Burt condemned Minors’ killing as “an escalation of community violence that cannot be tolerated,” promising stronger enforcement and deeper engagement with residents. The Bermuda Police Service has appealed for CCTV, dashcam, and doorbell footage from the area, urging residents that even the smallest detail could break the case.

Yet among the public, frustration is growing. People remember the calm of 2014 — when zero murders were recorded — and cannot understand how the island has returned to headlines dominated by gun violence. The contrast is stark: from celebrating the elimination of gun murders to confronting the targeted execution of a businesswoman in broad daylight.

A Test for Bermuda’s Future

The murder of Janae Minors has become more than a single case; it is now a symbol of Bermuda’s struggle to hold on to the progress it once made. The question facing the island is whether the successes of a decade ago can be replicated and sustained in today’s harsher climate of economic pressure and gang rivalries.

For Minors’ family, nothing can erase the tragedy of losing a mother and daughter so violently. But for Bermuda at large, her death is a wake-up call — that the island cannot afford complacency when it comes to crime.

As one community leader put it: “Nine years ago, we had beaten this. Now, we’re back to fearing what happens when the sun goes down. That is not the Bermuda we want to live in.”

Crime

Two Injured in Sunday Blue Hills Shootings

Published

2 months ago

August 29, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Magnetic Media & Eagle Legal News

Turks and Caicos, August 29, 2025 – A quiet Sunday afternoon in Blue Hills was shattered on August 24 when bursts of gunfire erupted along Front Street, leaving two people injured and sparking renewed fears in the community.

According to Eagle Legal News Media, residents reported hearing a barrage of bullets around 3:30 p.m., forcing people to run for cover. Videos from the crime scene later showed more than two dozen evidence markers scattered across the roadway, documenting the scale of the attack.

At least two individuals were struck by gunfire, though police sources said their injuries were not considered life-threatening. The victims were treated at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, where emergency services were briefly disrupted as staff responded to the influx of casualties.

The spray of bullets also damaged property. A small black Japanese car had its window blown out, while a truck parked nearby bore visible bullet holes.

The shooting came on the very same day that senior police and national security officials had gathered for a special church service in Providenciales, where prayers were offered for peace and protection across the islands. Just hours later, residents of Blue Hills were ducking for cover as bullets tore through their community.

The attack also followed weeks of heightened restrictions. Though Blue Hills had only recently emerged from a community-wide curfew, neighboring Five Cays remained under emergency restrictions until August 26. Additional late-night rules — including 2 a.m. closures for businesses and a ban on after-hours alcohol sales — remain in place following the July 27 Hookah Lounge mass shooting that killed four people.

Police cordoned off Front Street during their investigation, but as of press time, no arrests had been announced.

Crime

Police Seize Rifle and Ammunition in Blue Hills, 2025 Marked by Guns and Drug Arrests

Published

2 months ago

August 22, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos — August 22, 2025 – The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RT&CIPF) has recovered a high-powered rifle and more than 250 rounds of ammunition following a targeted operation in the Blue Hills community of Providenciales.

According to police, officers from the Tactical Unit and the Criminal Investigations Division acted on intelligence and searched an open area where they discovered the weapon, 255 assorted rounds, and firearm accessories. No arrests were made. The investigation is continuing.

This seizure adds to a string of police actions in 2025 against guns and narcotics.

On March 27, officers executed a warrant at a residence in Pete Court, Kew Town. Police say they discovered several bags of suspected cannabis and tablets believed to be methamphetamine. A 58-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply.

In July, the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force intercepted two separate narcotics shipments under Operation Transit Shed. More than 26 kilograms of cannabis and other drugs, with an estimated street value of over US $260,000, were seized. The contraband had been vacuum-sealed and hidden in boxes with detergent odors to mask the smell.

Days later, the country faced its first mass shooting when gunmen opened fire at a nightclub in Providenciales. Three people were killed and ten others injured. No arrests have been reported. Police are offering a US $10,000 reward for information leading to those responsible.

Police Commissioner Fitz Bailey has urged the public to cooperate with investigations, while Premier Charles Washington Misick described the surge in gun violence as a serious threat to the nation’s security.

Residents are being encouraged to report illegal activity by calling 911, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477, or using the P3 app.