On Sunday, August 18th, 2024, at approximately 10:17 pm, officers from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) Marine Unit, with the assistance of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, successfully intercepted an illegal migrant vessel near West Caicos.
The vessel was escorted to Providenciales, where the illegal migrants on board were handed over to the TCI Border Force for processing.
The intercepted vessel carried a total of 144 individuals, including 112 males (one of whom was a minor) and 32 females (five of whom were minors). The RTCIPF expressed gratitude to its local and international partners, including the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the United States Coast Guard, the TCI Border Force, and the TCI Regiment, for their assistance in this operation. The incident remains under active investigation.
In a related event, on Monday, August 19th, 2024, at 4:50 a.m., Marine Unit officers responded to reports of another illegal vessel near Long Bay, Providenciales. This second vessel was intercepted, and 17 illegal migrants—10 males (including one minor) and 7 females—were detained.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force issued a reminder to the public regarding the legal consequences of assisting in the transportation of illegal migrants. Under the TCI Immigration (Amendment) Ordinance 2022, Section 105 (2), individuals involved in such activities can face a fine of $20,000, imprisonment for up to four years, or both upon summary conviction.
Authorities are urging anyone with information that could aid these investigations to contact their nearest police station, dial 911, reach out to the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842, or anonymously provide information via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477. The public is also encouraged to use the Crime Stoppers P3 app to share information confidentially.
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