Residents ‘tipping off’ suspected violators on VI waters- HM Customs
It was on Sunday August 21, 2016 that the US Border Patrol and HM Customs, along with the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), were spotted patrolling the waters in the Western End of the territory’s waters. And while one would have thought persons would have been happy to have those conducting illegal activities caught and brought to justice, many were found doing the opposite.
Contacted as it relates to this concern, Head of Her Majesty’s Customs Mr Wade N. Smith confirmed our concerns. He said that on Sunday there was an extensive operation with his agency in collaboration with the US border patrol agency.
According to Mr Smith, himself and team were baffled to have been furnished with video recordings taken by person alerting boaters on the waters of the authorities’ presence.
He said: “It was the BVI Customs and US Customs in a joint operation in the BVI waters yesterday, [Sunday August 21, 2016], which is an opportunity that we all welcome the assistance, considering the limited resources all agencies are faced with these days. We must work closely together.”
Opting not to go into detail, Mr Smith said one vessel is currently in detention as a result of the joint operation.
The vessel remains in detention while the captain has been released on conditions as investigations are in progress.
According to Smith, his department in collaboration with others, both local and international, are trying as far as possible to up their moves in combating transnational crimes. “We are trying to make sure that boaters are following the laws outlined under the Customs Management and Duties Act, The Commercial and Recreational Vessels Licensing Act of 1992, Cruising Permit Act and making sure that no one is violating any other laws of the BVI.”
Approximately $400,000 in fines
Over the past months, Her Majesty’s Customs has been engaged in a vibrant campaign to bring the marine industry into compliance.
Mr Smith said there have been substantial fines imposed. “Even though we are grateful for the opportunity to address this to the public, which you (VINO) have assisted us over several weeks, we still find boaters with a high level of non-compliance. So they are non-compliant and we will continue to enforce the laws of the BVI.”
The Customs boss also disclosed to this news site that fines imposed so far have amounted to some $400,000. “Recently, a vessel was fined $18,000 for exceeding the amount of pick-ups in the BVI.”
He explained that charter vessels coming from overseas are allowed a maximum of seven (7) pick-ups in the territory.
“If you are coming from foreign you can have unlimited number of charters originating from foreign but once you originate from the BVI you are only allowed seven pick-ups annually. We want to make sure that the boating community is aware of it because we are here to ensure a level playing field and that’s important, a level playing field for the boating community, for the boating industry and to make sure that the BVI based boats are not at a disadvantage,” Smith said.
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25 Responses to “Residents ‘tipping off’ suspected violators on VI waters- HM Customs”
As a friend I give you one warning for breaking or wanting to break the law, you choose to continue breaking the law you on your own.
NDP BROKE THE COUNTRY NOW HERE BULL SH***ING HARRASING LOCALS ITS JUST NOT FAIR
So who is watching the SXM side of the BVI?