Thirteen Venezuelan nationals were detained for illegal entry into Trinidad by Erin and Santa Flora police, on Saturday 26th September 2020.
An official report from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) states that the Erin Police Station was alerted to the Venezuelan immigrants illegal entry by the Operation Command Centre, at 8:47 pm on Saturday. They reportedly were hiding near the Erin Fishing Facility.
The TTPS says officers from the Erin and Santa Flora police stations responded to the report and upon their arrival at the location, were informed that a pirogue had just dropped off several Venezuelans nearby.
A search was conducted and the officers eventually discovered 13 persons with large bags, who appeared to be wet, hiding behind a pirogue on the northern side of the fishing facility. They were detained and conveyed to the Erin Police Station on enquiries, after which they were taken to the Siparia Health Facility, where they were medically examined.
The TTPS says the detainees are currently at the Erin Police Station and will soon be conveyed to the Coast Guard Base at the Heliport in Chaguaramas, to be placed in quarantine.
According to release from the Police Service, this latest report of immigrants being detained follows an incident on Thursday 24th September 2020, in which 18 Venezuelans and 14 Chinese nationals were found to be in contravention of the Public Health Ordinance Regulations, following a raid at a sports bar along the Southern Main Road, Curepe.
Police are currently working with the Immigration Division to ascertain the status of these Venezuelan and Chinese immigrants.
Investigations continue.