Twenty illegal migrants were apprehended in the North Sound area of Virgin Gorda on Tuesday, July 23.
The Department of Immigration confirmed the development in a media release which noted that the twenty captured persons are Haitian nationals.
The group, consisting of twelve males and eight females, including three children, is currently undergoing intake processes managed by the Department of Immigration’s Enforcement Unit.
Assisted by the Marine Unit of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), the migrants were transported from Virgin Gorda to Tortola for further processing. The department noted that this collaborative effort underscores the commitment of local law enforcement agencies to tackle human smuggling within the territory’s waters.
Acting Chief Immigration Officer Ms. Nadia Demming-Hodge called on the public for assistance, urging anyone with information about the migrants to contact the Department of Immigration at 468-4705 or 468-4754, or the RVIPF Hotline at 311.