BVI News

Another vessel busted for illegal entry into BVI waters

Another yacht has once again entered the BVI without following the territory’s entry regulations, Customs Commissioner, Wade Smith disclosed. 

The Customs head said the operator of the vessel was fined some $20,000 for entering the territory without getting permission to land from Immigration and for going into a port that was not designated as a port of entry in the BVI.

Another very concerning infraction committed, Smith said, was not going through the relevant health protocols and having the vessel’s crew and passengers tested for COVID-19.

In a ZBVI interview aired recently, Smith said that during routine patrols, the territory’s Joint Task Force discovered the vessel at one of the BVI’s anchorages. 

The vessel, which bore the name ‘Q’, was discovered in the harbour of Cooper Island but wasn’t docked at the time it was found, Smith said.

The Customs boss said he did not know what day the vessel actually entered the BVI, but it was later determined that the vessel originated from the US Virgin Islands.

Approximately 11 passengers were reportedly travelling on the vessel, but several of them were not on board at the time it was discovered to be illegally in the territory’s waters.

“The vessel was in the BVI at one of our more popular anchorages. Anything could’ve happened had anyone of those persons tested positive for COVID-19 and [were] actually in the territory,” Smith stated. 

Customs officers put at risk of COVID-19 

Smith said his department’s primary concern currently, is suppressing the entry of COVID-19 into the territory. 

According to the Customs boss, not knowing the passengers’ COVID-19 status put Customs officers at risk as they were doing their job. 

Smith recalled the loss of more than 35 persons in the BVI during this year‘s COVID-19 surge which saw more than 1,600 persons being recorded as positive cases. 

“Our job first and foremost is to ensure that all vessels and passengers entering the territory go through the health protocols and are tested before they enter the BVI. And this was a situation where no one on board was tested,” he stated.

The incident comes less than a week after one vessel was seized and fined amount for various similar infractions. That vessel was also slapped with a $20,000 fine while one of its passengers was fined an additional $10,000 for giving false information to Customs officers.

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26 Comments

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  1. taking it too far says:

    Customs chasing away the tourists along with the much needed cash

    Like 19
    Dislike 63
  2. Resident says:

    screw covid let tourists in we need to eat

    Like 9
    Dislike 44
  3. Risk says:

    Hope the officers who boarded M/V Q were vaccinated to reduce their risk from exposure to the corona virus.

    Like 24
    Dislike 3
  4. UNINFORMED says:

    Im not a boater and just asking where do you go to get the information about permits, entering BVI and Protocols. I would guess that this information is not available easily. So if someone can educate on one place where this is available please share the link.

    http://www.???

    Like 4
    Dislike 2
  5. Cato says:

    That is the norm for lots of US vessels while their coast guards are like hawks around St John on the look out for BVI boaters. At least they only received a fine.

    Like 11
    Dislike 1
  6. story? says:

    just like the dogs and machine gun raid at dawn of nanny cay tourists im sure there is more to this story….

    Like 10
    Dislike 3
  7. Not cleared in says:

    Not clearing in is a massive no no in any country and that is totally fine to bust their butts BUT that is a separate issue to how Customs is dealing with the BVI boats that are trying to be legal and made to jump through hoops.

    Like 18
  8. Our action says:

    Some people will accept everything just for a fue daller, custom keep up the great work.

  9. Hmm says:

    Dem man done drop off or collect what tbej haf too $20,000000 is nothing for them man pay watch u see it happen again. U want tell me like plane need tower to land n cLl in boats dont have to do that n be tracked

  10. What says:

    But the ” dancer who**s can ride to and from the territory every night without a worry . Stop the hypocrisy

  11. Respect says:

    He who is of the pale/bland/so called white skin and especially if he is so called rich, is of the notion that the world is his, so he can do as he pleases.

    He has no respect for others and their borders, lands or sovereignty, and especially those of many shades of brown to Black skin….. He is hopelessly an entitled mind….

    Stand firm we must and secure or interest and laws, as they do theirs.

    Beware totally, if they are allowed to walk all over us, one day they will come in and trample us. That is their way and natural way of being.

    Respect others and ye shall be respected in return.

    Like 6
    Dislike 8
    • @respect says:

      What Hatton you to make you so over sensitive about how much melanin people have and why do you assume the owners of the boat were white? Weird.

  12. Peter Barmann says:

    Many BVI boats come to VI without clearing in. They come to Saphire docks, shop, and what ever, no restrictions. Seems one sided enforcement to me.

  13. Sam says:

    some of us think because of complexion some can waltz into our islands and break the laws just for a few dollars. the laws of this territory is for one and all and don’t change because of fancy boats

    Like 2
    Dislike 2
  14. Bandit says:

    Bermuda flag ??

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