BVI News

19 illegal immigrants captured! BVI resident arrested for smuggling

The Police Marine Base on Tortola. (Photo Credit: RDA)

A Virgin Islands resident has been arrested on suspicion of human smuggling after a vessel he allegedly captained was intercepted with 16 illegal immigrants.

In a press release this afternoon, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) said marine officers attempted to intercept a suspicious vessel with a number of persons on board early this morning, but the vessel sped off.

“Officers gave chase, and the captain ran the boat aground in the area of Manuel Reef where persons onboard tried to flee the area. Prepared on shore, officers of the Armed Response Team, Marine Unit and Beat and Patrol captured and detained a total of 16 illegal immigrants. The three persons who escaped were later detained. No injuries were reported,” the release said.

“The immigrants were nationals of Venezuelan, Cuba, Dominica Republic and Guyana. Immigration Department provided assistance. The alleged captain, a BVI resident, was arrested on suspicion of human smuggling,” it continued.

The release noted that Commissioner of Police Mark Collins commended the quick and decisive actions of the officers in both matters which, he said, likely saved lives.

This incident came on the heels of a rescue operation last night into the early morning with marine officers and members of the Virgin Islands Search and Rescue (VISAR) in the Sir Francis Drake Channel.

Officers were able to rescue two passengers who were hanging a partially sunken vessel off Pockwood Pond late last night after their boat took on water and sunk.

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24 Comments

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  1. Jah says:

    This was going on for a long time,the immigration department doesn’t do their job properly,a lot of people use bvi at their main destination but eventually flea…to st Thomas then to the state..these people who are responsible should face a hefty fine..

    Like 9
    Dislike 3
  2. hmm says:

    By next week half of them done escape.

    Like 25
  3. VI 4life says:

    No big deal his a resident I bet he get off aw that F..kry

    Like 6
    Dislike 1
  4. Guyanese says:

    Give me my Guyanese people to sponsor

    Like 2
    Dislike 4
    • Wow says:

      It is always a matter of time before someone like you come on here to be malicious with your comment. But, I’ll laugh at your stupidity cause you are clearly NOT a guyanese. Don’t choke on your hate.

      Like 1
      Dislike 1
  5. Rescue says:

    So if there was no rescue last night then 16 new ‘visitors’ would be living in the BVI thanks to the unidentified resident BVI smuggler. Time to bring in the UK Navy.

    Like 15
    Dislike 5
  6. Forensic Files 101 says:

    i think they need to find out the total amount on the boat. Because street talk say it was 20-25, and it seems that not all was caught.

  7. Taxpayer says:

    The captain be back to his business in next 3 4 days

  8. Taxpayer says:

    The captain be back to his business in next 3 to 4 days

  9. Real talk says:

    Now that Law Enforcement finally caught a Captain —-HOLD his/ her a** AND let CAPT pay the price of reparation to home countries for ALL on board OR say who else involved in the game and “ tax “ them also —— Time to make an example out of these RATS that continue to “ f**k “ these people over by short changing them . Seize vessel and auction it as starters ! But WE have to see who the “Big Boss”is behind the whole operation .Thanks s ONE time the UK needs to b involved —- because we know — one fone call and the “Politicians “ will say – DONT TOUCH THAT MAN

    Time for the Bull s**t to STOP. ( if you dropping the ppl US do that ) tek your chances for the FEDS to catch you —- not burden BVI

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
  10. concern a lot says:

    who the h**l is he why his name is not mentioned.

    if it was a man from the Caribbean Island his name would have been all over the news sites.

    Once again too much curry favour

    Like 5
    Dislike 1
    • AReminder says:

      I think if he was a BVIslander they would have said so.
      A resident could be from anywhere and more than likely is..

  11. Lawyer says:

    Suspect name not mention because the investigation is not conclusive that he was the captain. He could be innocent. So it is the right thing to do and not mention the man name.

  12. New food says:

    Leave the Venz women with me, bless up its festival.

  13. Mercedes hurmuda gongora says:

    all those who comment have a plate of food on their table and a decent salary, immigration exists because the rulers do not do what is appropriate with their people, in the case of Cuba, it is a militarized country, where politicians and the military abuse from the town , where children are shot to death in the faces of their parents , where the socialist system is bankrupt , where medical assistance is free but we have nothing , I do not want to die at sea , but people flee to see their children grow up in a better country and have a decent life , you think because you have the right to elect your rulers and remove them whenever you want , you think in favor of stopping immigration because they do not feel hungry , and not feed their children , I speak on behalf from Cuba , because I am Cuban and for 10 years I left because I understood that my life was in danger in a hospital lacking medical supplies for the population and for the rulers of the country they have everything , my pain is great see my gene fleeing you, and nobody asks why, I feel a lot of pain, I came to the BVI and received my nationality and I respect the laws of my new country but I suffer listening to their inhuman comments, they are immigrants not killers, they seek land of freedom, God Let them not deport him because even that is judged in Cuba, they deport him and he will serve a challenging sentence of 10 to 15 years. You must understand that Cuba is a dictatorship.

  14. Not at All says:

    Not at all, they are all trying to reach USVI.

  15. Anonymous says:

    They are immigrants, not murderers or traffickers, immigrants trying to reach the American Virgin Islands. All their comments have a logic, but those who immigrate immigrants do so because of a failed government, a bad government that makes them a prisoner in their own country. hungry need without any type of medical input and justifies that the United States oppresses it and the hotels for tourism in Cuba are all input from the United States where the people cannot enter only tourists.

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