Topic: Customs and Border Control
Customs officer, 4 others deny conspiring to import drugs, firearms
A customs officer and four other have appeared in court, charged in relation to a conspiracy to illegally import firearms and cannabis.
Customs seizes 30 pounds of ganja
The Customs and Border Control Service intercepted more than 30 pounds of ganja in an imported shipment arriving in Grand Cayman.
Cayman Border Control says 8 more Cubans repatriated
A total of eight irregular arrivals to Cayman from Cuba have been sent home, the Customs and Border Control (CBC) service has said
Cuban migration patterns shift, but arrivals to Cayman remain modest
Cuba’s deepening crisis has yet to trigger a surge in migration to Cayman, as more Cubans opt to settle in new destinations in Latin America.
Cayman repatriates six Cuban migrants
The Cayman Islands Customs and Border Control Service repatriated six migrants to the Republic of Cuba on 6 March.
In a press release issued on...
Eight Cuban migrants arrive by boat on Cayman Brac
Eight migrants arrived by boat at Spot Bay Cove in Cayman Brac on Monday night, 2 March, the Cayman Islands Customs and Border Control Service has confirmed.
Human Rights Commission backs government’s plans for Cuban migrants
Cayman's human rights watchdog has backed the government's plan to deal with a potential influx of Cuban refugees as the country's economic crisis deepened
10 migrants land by boat in Little Cayman
As Cayman puts preparations in place for a potential influx of Cuban migrants, a boat carrying 10 individuals arrived late on Saturday night on Little Cayman, authorities have confirmed.
Police pledge Sister Islands blitz on crime
Police have vowed to continue a crackdown on crime in the Sister Islands after a 'day of action' on Cayman Brac netted drugs and cash.
21 arrested as authorities crack down on crime in George Town
Public concerns led to a crime crackdown in George Town last week with the RCIPS joining forces with other law-enforcement bodies to combat illegal activity in the area.
Cuban asks to go to Cayman after Coast Guard intercepts boat
A man on a boat with 10 Cubans on board fleeing the country asked to be taken to Cayman after the vessel was spotted by a Port Authority craft and intercepted by the Coast Guard.
8 people rescued by tanker off Cayman
A tanker has rescued eight people on a small boat that was sinking miles off the Cayman coast after it was alerted by the Cayman Islands Coast Guard.
Customs officers detain 12 on Cayman Brac
A dozen migrants arrived by boat on Cayman Brac in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Customs officials have said.
Ban on older cars lifted for returning Caymanians’ pre-owned vehicles
Cabinet has approved an exemption to a ban on importing vehicles that are older than eight years for Caymanians who are returning home after living overseas.
R3 foundation gives US$328,663 grant for police helicopters, customs scanners
The R3 Cayman Foundation has donated US$328,663 to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service and Cayman Islands Customs and Border Control, which will be used to upgrade the police helicopters and buy scanners for local ports, according to a press release from the charity.
Illegal workers rounded up in building-site raid
Suspected illegal workers hid out on the roof of a construction site in George Town as police, working with immigration and labour officers, raided the site last week, according to the RCIPS.
WORC crackdowns yield nearly half-a-million dollars in fines
The Workforce Opportunity and Residency Cayman department added $455,255 into government's coffers as it registered a 16% bump in fines at the end of 2023 through its increased compliance and enforcement efforts.
Brazilian men sought for suspected theft and money laundering
Police and Customs and Border Control have issued a joint alert seeking the location of Brazilian nationals Vitor Domingo Valentini Dos Reis and Brenno Neves Florenci both of whom are wanted on theft and money laundering offences.
Body scanners installed at airport to combat smuggling
Government has spent a total of CI$264,826.80 on its contract for two new non-intrusive body scanners as part of security upgrades at the Owen Roberts and Charles Kirkconnell international airports.
Crackdown at airport nets only one conviction amidst drug and firearm seizures
Between December 2023 and February 2024 Customs and Border officials tapped 27 people for a number of offences ranging from firearm possession to drug importation during checks at the Owen Roberts International Airport.
Jamaican men arrested after boat lands in Breakers
Police have detained two men from Jamaica after they arrived on the south shore of Grand Cayman on a boat on Thursday morning, 18 Jan.
Jamaican murder suspect caught in Cayman
A man wanted in Jamaica on suspicion of murder was located in Cayman this week.
Ten men repatriated to Cuba
Ten men have been sent home to Cuba after arriving in the Cayman Islands without the correct legal documents.
Four Cuban asylum seekers land in Cayman Brac
Four men who are seeking asylum in the Cayman Islands landed in Cayman Brac in a small wooden rowing boat on Friday, 22 Sept.
Arson suspected in ‘small fire’ at detention centre
Cubans being held at the Customs and Border Control Detention Centre were evacuated Friday afternoon after a "small fire" broke out at the facility.
Four detained after rowing boat reaches Cayman Brac
Customs and Border Control Service has detained four men who arrived in Spot Bay, Cayman Brac, on a boat early on Sunday, 10 Sept.
Five arrested in cocaine bust on fishing boat
Five foreign nationals remained in custody Tuesday after Customs and Border Control officers seized a 'significant sum' of money along with four packages of cocaine on their fishing vessel.
Two arrested over seized guns, cannabis
Customs and Border Control officers on Tuesday, 15 Aug. arrested two Caymanian men in connection with the importation of three unlicensed firearms and more than 100 rounds of ammunition, along with a quantity of cannabis and cannabis products.
Cubans detained in Grand Cayman
Ten men from Cuba have been detained in Grand Cayman less than 24 hours after they had been seen illegally arriving on a boat in Cayman Brac.
Tourist convicted of smuggling fentanyl into Cayman
An American tourist who was caught with fentanyl powder in his backpack has been convicted in Summary Court of illegally importing the controlled drug.
Full-body scanners in the works for local ports
Security checks at Cayman's local ports of entry are heading for an upgrade as Customs and Border Control moves to procure two non-intrusive full-body scanners.
Man on trial for working at wife’s business without permit
A man accused of working at his wife's restaurant without a work permit was put on trial, alongside his wife who was prosecuted for allegedly employing him, on Wednesday, 5 July.
Thieves steal boat engines, damage vehicles at Brac Customs compound
Police are investigating a break-in at the Customs and Border Control compound in Cayman Brac in which thieves made off with three boat engines and damaged five vehicles.
UK commits £10 million to support overseas territories border security
The British government has committed £10 million towards support for law enforcement and border security for UK overseas territories.
Fentanyl concerns on the rise, local pharmacist warns of abuse
In light of recent fentanyl seizures, local authorities are calling for a public education campaign on the dangers of using, or even coming into contact with, the illegal drug.
Judicial review action threatened over gun importation case
Defence counsel for a man accused of illegally carrying a high-powered assault rifle, along with two other guns, into Cayman has threatened to initiate judicial review proceedings against the Crown for failing to give written reasons why they intend to proceed with the case.
Three held after 200 fentanyl tablets discovered in package
A Caymanian woman and two Jamaican men have been arrested in connection with the seizure of 200 fentanyl tablets that were concealed in an incoming package at the Airport Post Office last month.
Seized jewels go missing at Customs, probe under way
A quantity of jewellery that formed part of the evidence seized from a passenger has gone missing at Cayman's Customs and Border Control, leading to an internal investigation into the disappearance.
Passenger accused of importing guns posts $30K bail
A man accused of importing multiple guns into Cayman has been granted a $30,000 cash bail by the Summary Court ahead of a Grand Court appearance next month.
Customs officers arrest passenger carrying multiple firearms
Customs & Border Control officers seized three firearms from a male passenger arriving from Canada at Owen Roberts International Airport on Saturday, 28 Jan.
Cuban migration costs nears $3 million for 2022
As the cost of accommodating and repatriating Cuban asylum seekers looks likely to reach nearly $3 million this year, lawmakers in Cayman are amending legislation that will speed up the processing of their applications.
18 Cubans arrive over two-day period
A total of 18 Cubans, 11 of whom were picked up by a passing motor tanker on Saturday, are now under the care of Cayman's Customs and Border Control agency, taking the tally of Cubans in CBC custody to 335.
Broken-down Cuban vessel sparks rescue in waters off Cayman Brac
A small vessel adrift for seven days, carrying 14 Cubans, which had exhausted its supplies of drinking water was rescued last week by police, customs, the fire service and coast guard in the sea off Cayman Brac.
3 boats carrying 27 Cubans arrive in Cayman Brac
Over three consecutive days this week, three different vessels carrying 27 Cubans between them arrived in Cayman Brac, Customs and Border Control has confirmed.
Murder suspect deported by Cayman escapes from custody in Jamaica
A suspect who is wanted in connection with multiple murders, and was deported from Cayman to Jamaica, is on the run again, after having escaped from police custody.
CBC officer charged with firearm, drug offences
A Customs and Border Control officer is expected to appear in court Monday charged with firearms and drug offences after police found two handguns, ammunition and ganja at a home in Bodden Town during a search.
Cubans leave Cayman, as more arrive on boats
A number of Cubans who had previously arrived by boat have left Cayman, Customs and Border Control confirmed this week.
Man jailed for smuggling cocaine in canned cheese
A 35-year-old man, who is believed to have been the mastermind behind a failed attempt to import nearly two pounds of cocaine in a can of ‘Tastee Cheese’ has been jailed for 11 years.
Customs questioned on why IT system cost $1.1 million more than forecast
Members of the Public Accounts Committee questioned Customs and Border Control officials Wednesday on how a project to modernise the department's IT system went from an initial estimated budget of $277,000 to $1.4 million.
4 Cubans arrive on the Brac
Four Cuban nationals are now in the custody of Customs and Border Control after arriving on Cayman Brac Wednesday night, officials have confirmed.
RCIPS, WORC and CBC Come Together for Interview Skills Training Course
Instructors from the RCIPS Training and Development Unit hosted a group of Compliance Officers from Workforce Opportunities Cayman, along with a Customs Officer from CI Customs and Border Control, for a week-long course on Interview Technique Skills.
Officials meet over ‘mass migration’ contingency planning
With nearly 100 people now under government management, local officials are reviewing contingency plans in case of an influx of people landing here illegally.
Number of illegal Cuban nationals on Cayman Brac climbs to 41
Customs and Border Control officers have taken 15 men into custody on Cayman Brac after they illegally landed on the island.
Cayman authorities on alert over smuggled opioid Fentanyl
The Cayman Islands' Customs and Border Control service says it is concerned about the increasing importation of the illicit drug Fentanyl following two recent seizures of the potentially deadly opioid.
Two groups aboard ‘unseaworthy’ vessels held in quarantine
Two groups of men are being held in quarantine per COVID-19 protocols, after arriving in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac this week, according to a press release from Customs and Border Control on Thursday.
Winspear ‘disappointed’ with government’s implementation of recommendations
The Office of the Auditor General has lamented government’s lack of progress in implementing Public Accounts Committee (PAC) recommendations.
Customs and Border Control loses lawsuit to former staff
A former Customs and Board Control officer has won a lawsuit against CBC for an undisclosed amount after the Grand Court ruled the department was responsible for health complications she developed while on the job.
The Resh Hour: Howell addresses stipend delays, work-permit deferrals
Customs and Border Control Chief Officer Wesley Howell addresses stipend payment delays and Travel Cayman changes and additional lifting of travel restrictions.
Stipend payment delays, as Border Control and Labour boosts staff numbers
Recipients of the stipend for displaced tourism workers are only just receiving their February payments, according to the Ministry of Border Control and Labour.
Positive COVID-19 passenger jailed for four months in ‘worst case so far’
A woman who boarded a plane to Cayman, despite testing positive for COVID-19 and showing visible signs of the virus, has been jailed for four months for breaching Cayman's COVID-19 entry requirements.
Six flights and 700 passengers expected on 20 Nov. for border reopening
As Cayman prepares to drop quarantine for verified vaccinated travellers on Saturday, effectively reopening the borders to international visitors, Customs and Border Control officials say they're ready to welcome travellers back to the Islands.
The Resh Hour: Border Control and Labour Chief Officer Wesley Howell
Ministry of Border Control and Labour Chief Officer Wesley Howell discusses Customs and Border Control preparations, the updated travel portal, traveller's requirements and more ahead of Cayman's border reopening on 20 November.
CBC searches for missing Cuban migrants
Customs and Border Control is searching for four Cuban nationals who have gone missing in Cayman.
CBC intercepts marijuana edible candies
Customs and Border Control has seize several marijuana infused edible products which were disgusted as popular snacks
Cuban baby now in DCFS care, father injured in scuffle with CBC
The one-year-old Cuban infant who was removed by court order from her parents during the four-day standoff with Customs and Border Control officers remains in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services.
Standoff between Cubans and law enforcement ends
A Cayman Islands Coast Guard vessel has brought an infant and, shortly thereafter, her parents to shore this evening, following a standoff that began earlier this week.
Update: Cuban standoff: Baby running fever, says mom
The 1-year-old baby caught in the middle of the standoff between Customs and Border Control and 12 Cubans has a fever and is not feeling well, her mother Erica Alvarez-Freites has confirmed.
Gov’t grants exemption to protesting Cuban couple
Cabinet has granted protesting Cuban couple Javier Freites and Erica Alvarez-Freites an exemption which will allow the mother of one to work in the Cayman Islands, Customs and Border Control has confirmed.
Individual imports expected to set record for holiday season
Customs and Border Control officials registered nearly $130 million worth of incoming goods in November as individual imports by residents reached a record 23,407.
Cuban migrants placed in quarantine
A dozen Cuban migrants were taken into custody after landing in Little Cayman over the weekend.
Border Control loses track of 14 Cuban migrants
The Customs and Border Control Service is trying to trace 14 Cuban migrants after the electronic monitoring devices they were wearing lost connection on Monday.
Crown counsel: Officers can’t be blamed for executing search warrant
A Crown counsel has told the Grand Court that Customs and Border Control officers cannot be held legally liable for executing a search warrant...
