A major maritime interception off the coast of Erin, Trinidad and Tobago has led to criminal charges against 11 Venezuelan migrants caught entering the country illegally, in the latest high-profile border enforcement action highlighting the country’s ongoing challenges with unauthorized migration. The accused, ranging in age from 19 to 44, include eight men and three women, who were taken into custody during a coordinated operation on Friday. Of the 11, nine face a single charge of illegal entry, while two additional defendants face the extra allegation of aiding and abetting the unauthorized crossing, according to official details.
The operation unfolded after Trinidad and Tobago’s Radar Center detected the suspicious vessel and relayed real-time information to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard’s mother ship, which dispatched teams to intercept the craft. Shortly after 1 a.m. that same day, the Coast Guard intercepted the boat carrying a total of 13 Venezuelan nationals in a fishing zone near Erin — the two additional people on board were infants aged one year and two months old, who have not been charged in the case.
Beyond the human passengers, law enforcement officials also discovered a number of unusual contraband items aboard the intercepted vessel: a live black cow, plus large stockpiles of cheese, alcohol and sausage. This seizure of unregulated food and livestock echoes a similar incident from earlier this March, when local police arrested two other undocumented Venezuelan migrants in Santa Flora during a routine traffic stop. That case also resulted in seizures of uncustomed goods, including alcoholic beverages, pepper sauce, clothing, footwear and a container of cheese.
Local media outlet the Express attempted to secure comment from Minister of National Security Roger Alexander on the string of recent unauthorized migrant arrests, but as of publication has not received a response. In an official public statement regarding the 11 charged migrants, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) confirmed that it is maintaining close coordinated work with multiple relevant government stakeholders to strengthen border security and crack down on repeated incidents of illegal entry.
The TTPS also issued a public reminder in its release: assisting or facilitating any form of illegal entry into Trinidad and Tobago qualifies as a serious criminal offense under the country’s laws, and any individuals found to be involved in such activity will face full prosecution and legal consequences.