RTCIPF Marine Operations Centre and Marine Branch Working Together in Keeping Our Borders Secure

#TurksandCaicos, June 4, 2022 – During the early hours of Saturday 4^th June 2022 a suspicious vessel was tracked by RTCIPF Marine Operations Centre from the Leeward Area of Providenciales. The operator immediately updated colleagues within the Royal Turks and Caicos Marine Branch who made their way to the location and pursued a fast boat which was abandoned on Five Cays beach, it has since been reported stolen by the owner in Leeward and due to the diligence of the Marine Operations the vessel has now been recovered, a forensic examination has taken place and investigations continue.

Shortly after at 5:44am, the alarm was raised again and a suspicious vessel tracked by the Marine Operations Centre. This led to a large sloop which was safely intercepted. Officers found an overloaded vessel containing irregular migrants.  Following the stabilization of the boat it was carefully offloaded at sea to ensure the safety of the occupants and then towed to South Dock where it arrived, 169 persons (120 males and 49 females) who were then taken into custody by the Immigration Department.

At around 4:49am on Sunday 5^th June following another suspicious vessel was identified and tracked by the Marine Operations Centre. Another irregular migrant vessel was safely recovered with 102 irregular migrants on board which have been transferred into the custody of the immigration department.

Finally, this weekend at 2:23am on Monday 6^th June, a third sloop was identified, tracked and intercepted here in our TCI waters. Once again following a delicate coordinated operation 104 persons (82 Males and 22 Females) were safely handed over to immigration officers.

Superintendent Martyn Ball said, “This has been a very busy weekend here in the TCI waters. Once again working with partners, we have safely intercepted three vessels that was overcrowded, unsafe and risking the lives of those on board and   this demonstrates the professionalism and dedication of the RTCIPF Marine Unit, working together with colleagues in the Marine Operations Centre and TCI Immigration to save lives and keep our borders here in the Turks and Caicos safe.

This weekend alone 375 persons have been detained. In the last couple of months around 1143 individuals on 11 dangerous vessels have been intercepted which is testament to the professionalism of our teams here in the TCI. Again 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 here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”