
The Turks and Caicos Islands authorities have intercepted a group of more than 200 illegal Haitian migrants at sea on Sunday.
The incident has put a further strain on the country's resources, as the government will now have to allocate funds to provide for the migrants' housing, food, and eventual repatriation.
The interception operation was carried out by the Marine Branch Officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, who responded promptly to information received from the Radar Station. The station had reported a suspicious vessel heading towards Providenciales, prompting authorities to take action.
At approximately 10:57 p.m., officers successfully intercepted the 40ft. vessel, which was equipped with two outboard engines. Upon inspection, it was revealed that the vessel was carrying a total of 204 illegal migrants, consisting of 52 females and 152 males.
The illegal migrants were subsequently handed over to the Immigration Task Force for processing. This incident marks the twenty-third interception of illegal migrants by the Turks and Caicos Islands authorities this year.
In response to this ongoing issue, the public is being urged to report any information related to illegal activities by contacting the nearest police station, dialing 911, or calling TCI Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477. The authorities hope that anonymous tips will help in curbing such illegal immigration activities in the future.
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