2 charged with illegal entry amid major probe

Police in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) have made what appears to be a major breakthrough in a case of immigrant smuggling as they yesterday took two men into custody.

The two – a Jamaican native and a Guyanese who resides in St Martin – have been charged with illegal entry into the BVI.

Both men were held aboard a vessel at the ferry terminal in the BVI capital yesterday. They were then transported to the Road Town Police Station.

Their names are being withheld at this time.

Highly placed sources have told BVI News Online that the duo is also being investigated in relation to a major case of immigrant smuggling.

The case started last year when local law enforcers rescued some 20 illegal immigrants at sea. Several remain missing.

The vessel transporting them was found in distress at sea, and was making a trip from St Martin to the US Virgin Islands (USVI).

Persons rescued by BVI law enforcers said the captain left the vessel at sea in the company of another person, and did not return.

The illegal immigrants (17 Cubans and 3 Haitians) said they also paid $5,000 each for the trip to the USVI.