~ Another suspect detained in Ostrich-investigation ~
PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On Wednesday morning, February 22, 2017 the suspect Brenda Brooks (Lawyer), has been arrested in the Ostrich-investigation. She is suspected of bribing one or more immigration officials and human smuggling.
The arrest is part of a lengthy investigation that has been ongoing since April 2016, code-named Ostrich. It concerns an investigation carried out by the Unit Human Trafficking and Human Smuggling of the St. Maarten Police Force, KPSM into illegal admittance of amongst others Jamaicans, Haitians and Guyanese.
On January 17, 2017 two employees of the immigration service, K.L.M.B. and A.A.D. were already arrested in the same investigation. Before that another employee of the immigration service, J.M. was arrested on November 14, 2016.
They are suspected of human smuggling, bribery and abuse of their post.
All three employees of the immigration service are still detained.
J.M.’s partner, D.F. who was also arrested has been released from pre-trial detention.
He remains a suspect in the ongoing investigation. The investigation continues.
Previous “Ostrich” Press Release:
Two employees of the immigration service arrested
On Tuesday morning, January 17, 2017 two employees of the immigration service were arrested suspected of human smuggling, bribery and abuse of their post. K.L.M.B. (34) and A.A.D. (33) were arrested around 6:20 am.
The arrests are the result of a lengthy investigation that has been ongoing since April 2016, code-named Ostrich. It concerns an investigation carried out by the Unit Human Trafficking and Human Smuggling of the St. Maarten Police Force, KPSM into illegal admittance of Jamaicans and Haitians.
The arrests were carried out by members of this unit in conjunction with the National Detectives Agency. On November 14, 2016 another employee of the immigration service, J.M. was arrested in the same investigation.
She is still detained while her partner D.F. who was also arrested has been released from pre-trial detention. He remains a suspect in the ongoing investigation
