The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force Marine Branch apprehended 18 illegal migrants, including a minor near Bone Fish Hole after they were caught using an engine boat to apparently make landfall.
Marine Branch received information that suspicious vessel was spotted making its way through the Sand Bore channel toward the north-western side of Providenciales.
The dispatched members of the Marine Branch aboard Sea Pursuit, while in the area of Bone Fish Hole, intercepted the illegal vessel one mile from shore.
According to the police, the dark blue sailing vessel, powered by a 60 HP Yamaha outboard engine, had 18 irregular migrants on board.
The 15 males, three females, including one minor, were transported to the South Dock Port and handed over to the Immigration Task Force for processing. The police said the operation was incident-free.