#Turks&Caicos, April21,2023 – Two members of the crew of a Haitian trade vessel have been found guilty of assisting the illegal entry of ninety Haitian migrants into the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Following an intelligence-led operation, ninety migrants – 64 men, 24 women and 2 minors – were encountered on West Caicos on 5th February 2023. The vessel, Marassa Express, had arrived in the Turks and Caicos Islands, from Haiti, the same day. Following a detailed investigation by criminal investigators from the Immigration Taskforce, and in partnership with officers from the Customs Department and on-island US colleagues from the Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) team, the Captain of the Marassa Express, Georges Alexis and the vessel’s mechanic, Meralien Merlien were charged with Assisting the Unlawful Entry of the ninety migrants.

Following a trial at the Magistrates Court on Providenciales, Alexis, aged 42, and Merlien, aged 55, were both found guilty of Assisting Unlawful Entry and Disembarking Passengers From a Small Craft Without Reporting to the Proper Officer. Alexis and Merlien remain at HMP Grand Turk until their sentencing, which is scheduled for 1st May.

Amendments to the Immigration Ordinance made last year set out that a person found guilty of the offence of Assisting Illegal Entry is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term of four years, or to both; or on conviction on indictment to a fine or to imprisonment for a term of seven years, or to both.

The unlawful migrants have since been repatriated to Haiti and an application for seizure of the vessel will be made on the 1st of May 2023.

Border Force Director General, Emilio Seymour, said “This conviction sends a strong message to those that seek to undermine the security of the borders of the Turks & Caicos Islands. But this is only the start. We are relentlessly pursuing the organizers and those who are profiting in the shadows from the cowardly act of Assisting Illegal Migration and praying on the vulnerability of our regional brothers and sisters. Our collaboration with our international partners has increased our capacity significantly in identifying and dismantling human smuggling and our local officers are to be commended for a job well done. We can no longer keep simply intercepting and repatriating illegal migrants. To win the fight against Illegal Migration we must identify, apprehend and prosecute the ringleaders involved. For those who insist on committing these Immigration Offences, you will be Identified, we will apprehend you and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law.”

Minister for Immigration, Hon. Arlington Musgrove, said ‘This was an incredibly serious offence – ninety migrants being hidden in a trade vessel to try enter the Turks and Caicos Islands undetected – and a bold attempt by people smugglers to abuse our borders. In this case, crew of the Marassa Express tried to exploit our trade routes, posing as the crew of a legitimate trade vessel simply bringing cargo from Haiti. The painstaking and detailed investigation that followed shows the lengths that the Immigration Department will go to bring these criminals to justice. My congratulations go to the Criminal Investigators in our Immigration Taskforce who worked diligently to secure this conviction and to all officers from the Immigration and Customs Departments who worked on this investigation.

 My broader thanks go to our partner agencies – the Marine Branch of Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) colleagues from the United States Department of Homeland Security – who were both instrumental in this case. I look forward to the sentencing of these two individuals.”