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Two more Haitian migrant vessels intercepted in Turks and Caicos

From Caribbean News Now

PROVIDENCIALES, TCI — As police and immigration officials in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) continue to search for bodies that may still be in the waters of the North West Point area of Providenciales from an illegal Haitian migrant vessel that capsized last Tuesday, two more illegal Haitian vessels were intercepted late Sunday night and the early hours of Monday as they attempted to make landfall.

At around 11:30 pm on Sunday, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Marine Police intercepted a blue and brown 36-foot wooden boat three miles from South Dock. The boat, which was powered by two engines, had 125 souls on board (98 males, 27 females and two juveniles).

Marine Police later intercepted a green, red and gray 25-foot wooden boat at around 4:15 am on Monday morning, some two miles away from Five Cays. It was powered by one Tohatsu engine and had a total of 53 souls on board (46 males and seven females).

A total of 178 persons from both sloops were taken to the Detention Centre and handed over to immigration officials for further detention and processing for repatriation. A thorough search was conducted on the sloop for drugs and weapons, but nothing was found.

In a comment on this situation the deputy premier and minister with responsibility for border control and employment, Sean R Astwood, said “It is regrettable that even after the tragic event of 15 persons losing their lives in the waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands as recently as last Tuesday, people traffickers and people who use their services, continue to ignore the inherent dangers of the journey. Moreover, they continue to show blatant disregard for our laws. Through a press conference convened last week, my government communicated that we will be taking steps to address this issue and implore all persons involved in this illegal and life threatening activity to consider carefully the consequences associated with it.”

This brings the total number of persons caught attempting illegal entry in the TCI for the month of January 2017 to 275.

IMAGES: Intercepted Haitian migrant vessels

For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/headline-Two-more-Haitian-migrant-vessels-intercepted-in-Turks-and-Caicos-33370.html

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