Jamaican and Three Haitians Charged After Discovery of Illegal Boats Carrying Drugs Worth Nearly $3 Million

Wilkie Arthur 

Eagle Legal News Media

Turks and Caicos, September 12, 2024 – Despite the discovery of nearly $3 million worth of drugs, along with illegal migrants—including minors—on vessels found on August 16th and 17th, 2024, no one has been charged with drug trafficking or human trafficking.

However, on Monday, September 2nd, four individuals were brought before Resident Magistrate Mrs. Oreika Selver-Gardiner, charged with illegal entry in relation to the vessels discovered hidden in North Caicos.

A large quantity of cannabis (Sativa) and illegal migrants were found aboard, including minors. One of those charged, Jamaican Lennox Samuels, born in 1989, pleaded guilty to unlawful entry.

In court, Samuels, seen in a video hiding his face by pulling his shirt over it, begged Magistrate Selver-Gardiner to impose a fine instead of a prison sentence. He explained that he has three young children, and his wife is pregnant with twins.

He claimed he entered the Turks and Caicos Islands illegally to help “build up the country.”

The magistrate fined Samuels $1,800 or four months’ imprisonment.

Haitian citizen, Peterson Petit-Homme, 21, also pleaded guilty to unlawful entry. He was fined $2,500 or five months’ imprisonment.

Petit-Homme received a higher fine than Samuels because immigration authorities presented evidence that this was not his first illegal entry into the Turks and Caicos Islands. He had previously been deported or repatriated to Haiti.

The cases of two other Haitians, Devil Penode, 25, and Veniel Telusma, 31, were adjourned.

Magistrate Selver-Gardiner could not accept their guilty pleas due to their claims of misunderstanding.

Penode stated that he believed he was en route to Miami and was unaware he was headed to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Telusma claimed he did not know he would be charged and was unaware the vessel would stop in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Their cases will be addressed later this month.

Wilkie Arthur – Court Correspondent | Eagle Legal News Media (For advertisements, sponsorships, or donations to support this growing media network, contact us at 342-3407)