Crime
NEW: TCI Operation Pursuit to Crack Down on People Smuggling
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, May 5, 2023 – The Turks and Caicos has created a new campaign to go after those who facilitate human trafficking in-country; ‘Operation Pursuit’ is the name of the new multi-agency framework that will work on land and at sea to reduce smuggling. The new undertaking was the result of an extraordinary meeting of the National Security Council, called out of concern over the increasing number of migrants heading to the Turks and Caicos in an attempt to breach its borders illegally.
Operation Pursuit will not only focus on interdictions at sea but dismantle land based operations that provide a
haven for the irregular migrants in the country. The focus will be on undocumented migrants, business, and liquor license premises, construction sites, and road traffic offenders. In addition, strengthened intelligence gathering, surveillance and air surveillance is planned.
The National Security Council says this operation will locate, identify, and process persons involved in transnational and organised crime, and gather and share intelligence with local and international partners.
The migrants are arriving on both small fast boats under the cover of night and inconspicuous trade vessels abusing their legal right to enter the country. Desperation resulting from the continued decline of the humanitarian situation in Haiti, has pushed more migrants to the Turks and Caicos than police have recorded in years, over 1600 in the first four months of 2023.
The meeting was attended by top country officials including Anya Williams, Acting Governor, Washington Misick, TCI Premier, Rhondalee Braithwaite Knowles, Attorney General, and senior security leaders.
Garfield Ekon
Staff Writer
USA, September 21, 2024 – Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been charged with serious sex offenses from a 14-page indictment, accusing him of racketeering, sex trafficking by force and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Mr. Combs, 54, was arrested on Monday evening, with allegations of running a criminal enterprise from at least 2008 that relied on drugs and violence to force women to “fulfill his sexual desires”, according to prosecutors. A New York federal judge remanded the musician in custody on Tuesday after prosecutors argued he was a “serious flight risk”.
If convicted on all three counts, the rapper and record producer faces a sentence of 15 years up to life in prison. Asked by US Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky how he wished to plead, Mr. Combs stood up and said: “not guilty”.
According to court documents, Mr. Combs “wielded the power” of his status to “lure female victims, to engage in extended sex acts” called “Freak Offs”. During Freak Offs, Combs distributed a variety of controlled substances to victims, in part to keep the victims “obedient and compliant,” the indictment said.
In a news briefing, US prosecutor Damian Williams said officials found firearms, ammunition and more than 1,000 bottles of lubricant during raids on Mr. Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles, about six months ago. Mr. Williams said federal agents also found three semi-automatic rifles with defaced serial numbers, and a drum magazine.
He told reporters that further charges were possible, without offering details.
Mr. Agnifilo, the musician’s lawyer, maintained, “there’s no coercion and no crime.”
“He’s not afraid of the charges,” he said, adding that he believed Mr. Combs was the target of “an unjust prosecution”.
In court documents, federal prosecutors said that Mr. Combs had “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct”.
Prosecutors accuse Mr. Combs of “creating a criminal enterprise” whose members – under his direction – engaged in sex trafficking, forced labour, kidnapping, arson and bribery.
“On numerous occasions”, the documents said, Mr. Combs assaulted women by “striking, punching, dragging, throwing objects at, and kicking them”.
The indictment did not specify how many women were alleged victims.
It also does not accuse Mr. Combs himself of engaging directly in unwanted sexual acts with women.
Last November, his ex-girlfriend, singer Casandra Elizabeth Ventura, filed a civil lawsuit against him that included graphic descriptions of violent abuse.
Sean “Diddy” Combs denied the accusations, but settled the case a day after it was filed.
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