Joint operation results in boat seizure in BVI
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
ROAD TOWN, BVI: A joint operation involving
the British Virgin Islands Customs and Police Force Marine and Drug Units
resulted in the seizure of a suspicious vessel on Sunday.
Assistant Comptroller of HM Customs Mr. Dean Fahie said that intelligence was
obtained at around 10:30am on the day in question, indicating that an
unattended boat had run aground near Norman Island.
He said a joint task force responded immediately in a Customs vessel,
“Vigilant,” and found a cream-coloured 20-foot Boston Whaler abandoned in the
vicinity of the south of Norman Island. The vessel, which had a St. Martin
registration number NM 2151, bore a partially obscured name, “Lolit,” and was
installed with two 85-horsepower Yamaha outboard engines.
After it was discovered that no one was on board, an extensive search of the
vessel and the surrounding area was conducted, but no items were found. HM
Customs and the Police have launched a joint investigation to determine the
owner of the boat. Mr. Fahie appealed to
anyone who may have information about the vessel to come forward or to call
the Customs hotline at 494-8209. He assured members of the public that all
information will be treated confidentially and that the identities of persons
will not be disclosed. In addition, HM
Customs is in regular contact with law enforcement officials from St. Martin
in an effort to determine whether or not the registration number on the vessel
was authentic.
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