Crime
Murder, Human Trafficking, Interceptions, Gun Arrests & Theft Charges from TCI Police
Man Murdered in Grand Turk; Homicide count to SEVEN for TCI
May 9th, 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 9th, 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 9th, 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 12th, 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.”
The Bahamas, May 29, 2026 – One of the biggest questions surrounding the Jonathan Gardiner case appears to have been answered.
Weeks after reports surfaced that the Bahamian businessman failed to appear for an expected court hearing in Orlando, newly disclosed
court records show the hearing never took place because Gardiner elected to have the matter heard in New York, where federal prosecutors are pursuing the case against him.
According to reporting by the Nassau Guardian, U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathan Hill ruled on May 19 that Gardiner was the person named in the federal arrest warrant and ordered that he be transferred to the Southern District of New York.
“…I find that Jonathan Eric Gardiner is the person named in the warrant for arrest…,” Hill wrote.
The judge noted that no preliminary hearing was conducted in Florida because Gardiner chose to have that hearing held in the district where the prosecution is pending.
That district is New York.
Hill ordered that Gardiner “be held to answer in the district court in which the prosecution is pending” and directed the U.S. Marshal’s Office to transport him to the Southern District of New York.
No date for a New York court appearance was disclosed in the order.
The development helps explain confusion that followed reports of a missed Orlando court date and marks the latest chapter in a case that has captured public attention in both The Bahamas and the United States.
Gardiner first came to the attention of U.S. authorities after surviving an Election Day plane crash off the Florida coast. Federal prosecutors
have accused him of participating in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, allegations he is expected to contest in court.
The matter has attracted even greater scrutiny because federal court documents reference an unnamed “Politician 1”, fueling widespread public speculation about the identity of the individual and whether additional disclosures could emerge as the case progresses.
Meanwhile, a separate investigation has uncovered troubling findings about the aircraft involved in the crash.
According to reporting by The Tribune, investigators say the Panamanian-registered aircraft that ditched into waters off Florida on May 12 did not possess a valid certificate of airworthiness and should not have been operating at the time of the flight.
That revelation has added another layer of intrigue to an already extraordinary case involving a dramatic ocean rescue, a federal drug conspiracy prosecution, political speculation and now questions about how an allegedly unairworthy aircraft was carrying passengers between Bahamian islands.
For now, attention shifts to New York, where Gardiner’s next court appearance is expected to provide the first substantive hearing in a case many continue to watch closely.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
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