An air arrival has pleaded guilty in court to an attempt to enter the Cayman Islands with a fraudulent passport.
The visitor was arrested after Customs and Border Control officials became suspicious of the man’s credentials after his plane touched down in George Town.
A CBC spokeswoman said that the use of fraudulent or altered passports was “a serious criminal offence” and would result in “strict enforcement action”.
She added, “Travellers are urged to ensure that all passports and supporting documents are valid and authentic prior to travel.
“Individuals found attempting to enter the Cayman Islands using false documentation may face refusal of entry, arrest and prosecution, deportation and future travel bans.”
She was speaking after the man was arrested at Grand Cayman’s airport on Thursday, 16 April.
He later admitted possession of a forged, altered or irregular passport, illegal entry and uttering a false document at a court appearance on 20 April.
The man was remanded in custody for sentencing on 29 April.
A woman who lives in Cayman and is associated with the man was also arrested in connection with the incident.
She was released on bail and border control officials said inquiries continued.
The CBC spokeswoman added, “No further details will be released at this time to protect the integrity of these inquiries.”
Bruce D. Smith, the director of CBC, said, “Maintaining the integrity of our borders is a top priority and to that priority there will be no compromise.
“Our officers are trained to detect irregularities and take appropriate action to ensure the safety and security of the Cayman Islands, in line with our national priorities.”
Fraudulent passport offences appear to be rare in the Cayman Islands, although fraudulent work permit offences have been logged.
A man who provided a relative with a fraudulent work permit was last year sentenced to three months in jail after he admitted several charges of possession of forged documents.
The use or creation of forged documents is a criminal offence under section 76 of the Immigration (Transition) Act (2022 Revision) and sections 283A and 283B of the Penal Code (2024 Revision).
Offences under the Immigration (Transition) Act (2022 Revision) are punishable by a fine up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment for up to a year for Summary Court convictions.
Forgers or those who knowingly use false documents can face up to three years in prison under the Penal Code.
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