Eight migrants recently escaped detention, but three had been recaptured as of March 14, according to a press release that day from the Immigration Department.
Chief Immigration Officer Ian Penn thanked the public for providing information that led to the recapture of the escapees, and he urged residents to remain vigilant.
A Friday press release stated that five Haitians absconded on March 11 from the Hotel Castle Maria and two Venezuelans absconded last Thursday.
It did not explain when the eighth detainee escaped, though it stated that one of the eight escapees had already been caught by that time.
Mr. Penn did not respond to multiple interview requests.
Escapees
The five who allegedly escaped on March 11 were Haitians Milson Catul, Nicholas Mckenson, Slovans Semaus, Jeff Sherry, and Jni-Baptiste Yeye, according to the press release. Venezuelans Angel Fusil Lugo and Michael Villalobos Moreno escaped on March 10, the release stated.
By Monday, law enforcers had recaptured Messrs. Semaus and Catul, as well as a third detainee named Hermosa Raul.
While authorities try to track down the migrants, anyone with information about their whereabouts is urged to call the police hotline at 311 or 911 or the Immigration Department at 468-4700, 468-4715 or 468-4754, Immigration stated on Monday.
Previous captures
Friday’s press release came roughly a week after Police Information Officer Diane Drayton stated that police were asking for public assistance in locating Haitian Genel Mauvais, who had escaped custody while being escorted to the immigration office at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Feb. 27.
About a month earlier, customs officers detained 30 migrants on Jan. 29 after responding to reports of a suspicious vessel in the Kingstown area, Customs Commissioner Wade Smith told the Beacon at the time.
Mr. Smith said it was unclear where the boat was headed.
Though he said there were men, women and children aboard, he declined to provide specifics about their ages, genders or nationalities.
Government mum
Officials did not say if last week’s escapees were among the migrants apprehended on Jan. 29.