Eleven persons described by authorities as illegal aliens — five Chinese nationals, five Haitians and another individual — were apprehended on St. John Monday morning after they came ashore at Cinnamon Bay, according to district Deputy Police Chief Theodore Carty.
National Park Service authorities believe that the captain of the vessel that dropped the 11 off and others that were aboard made their getaway and remain at large, Carty said.
He said police were called by National Park Service personnel who had been alerted to the group's presence by area residents. "Citizens reported to the Park Service that a boat dropped off the illegals near Cinnamon Bay," he said.
Police took the 11 into custody shortly after 7 a.m., he said. When aliens are apprehended, they routinely are turned over to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service for processing and extradition. Carty asked that anyone with information on the whereabouts of other illegals on St. John contact the police at 693-8880.