BVI Customs seizes vessel in joint operation

Thursday, February 5, 2004

ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands: The BVI Customs Department has reported intercepting and seizing a vessel, which was bringing two illegal immigrants into the BVI, in the early hours of the morning of February 4.

Assistant Comptroller of Enforcement Mr. Dean Fahie said that the United States Customs and Border Protection Agency called out HM Customs at about 1:00 a.m. after observing a suspicious vessel heading for BVI waters.

He said officers from the Department, along with members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) Marine and Drug Units, responded promptly and began patrolling the territory's waters on board the Customs' vessel, "The Searcher."

During this time, Mr. Fahie explained that the United States Customs and Border Protection Agency provided valuable operational and technical support through the use of a Blackhawk helicopter, as well as a vessel patrolling in the sea.

He added that, at about 4:00 a.m., a 32-foot wooden boat, named "Map-Ceye," which was installed with two 250-horsepower outboard Johnson engines, was intercepted in the vicinity of the Sir Francis Drake Channel.

Mr. Fahie said the customs officers boarded the vessel and discovered two Haitian nationals on board, one of them being the captain. After searching the boat thoroughly, the men were detained and handed over to the Immigration Department.

Later the same day, nine illegal immigrants were reportedly detained by US authorities on the island of St. John, United States Virgin Islands (USVI). According to Mr. Fahie, it is believed that the same boat may have been used to transport them there and that there may have been additional people on board the vessel before it was intercepted in the BVI. 

He explained that, consequently, the Customs Department, the RVIPF, the Immigration Department and the United States Customs and Border Protection Agency have launched an intensive joint investigation. 

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