The TTCG says while conducting patrols along the South Coast of Trinidad just before midnight on Saturday the TTS Scarborough detected a vessel crossing the border between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.
The TTS Scarborough’s ship boat was launched to aid in the interception and the Coast Guard used all available methods to stop the vessel including the ship’s horn, searchlight and flares.
Warning shots were also fired ahead of the vessel and the vessel’s pilot attempted to ram the Coast Guard boat.
The Coast Guard crew in self-defence then shot at the vessel’s engines. When the vessel stopped, Coast Guard officers found illegal migrants who remained hidden and were not seen before. Among them one adult female indicated she was bleeding, she was holding an infant.
The TTCG says the injured female was stabilised and transferred to a local health facility but regrettably, the infant was unresponsive.