Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Oct 27, 2025

US citizens claim unfair, unsanitary detention in BVI! DPP denies it

US citizens claim unfair, unsanitary detention in BVI! DPP denies it

Some American media outlets have been airing video clips released by four US citizens who were detained after their boat illegally entered BVI waters. In the videos, the US citizens say they are being unfairly detained under unsanitary conditions by BVI authorities.

The BVI’s air and sea borders are closed to any visiting US citizens until December 1.

The four persons Nicholas Cancro, John Hines Jr, Lynee Ann Hines and Jeanne McKinnon said they travelled to the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) on a sailing trip.

They claim they “accidentally” entered BVI waters but were heading back towards the USVI when they were stopped and detained by BVI authorities.

In one of their videos which appears on ABC4.com, the US citizens said they haven’t been told why they were detained and have been slapped with two fines — each amounting to $10,000.

They claim cockroaches are in the hotel room where they are being held, adding that they have to wrap jackets around their legs to stop bugs biting.

They also filmed broken bathroom fixtures and said the kitchen sink fell off the wall.

A sister of one of the detained has also spoke to US media outlets, claiming the US citizens are being detained without reason.

BVI denies claims


Following the claims made by the US citizens, the BVI Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) released a statement on Sunday calling the claims made by the detainees “erroneous”.

The DPP’s Office said the US citizens are being held under a mandatory 14 day-quarantine and are being treated with “BVI Love”.

“All four persons are safe and are being cared for with BVILOVE and with the finances of the Government and people of the Virgin Islands,” a statement from the DPP said.

The DPP’s office also rebuffed claims that the US citizens haven’t been informed of the charges against them.

“The persons were charged with illegal entry without the permission of an Immigration Officer contrary to section 20(3) of the Immigration Ordinance Cap 130 as amended,” the DPP office said.

The statement also said: “The matter was submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution on the 27th November 2020 by the Commissioner of Customs at 11:15 am following which the matter was processed and forwarded to the Magistrates’ Court via the Police Prosecution Unit, for an urgent hearing date.”

One US media WJLA.com reported that the court date is set for today, November 30. However, BVI news hasn’t been able to confirm this.

The DPP office is reminding the public that the territory reserves the right to apprehend and prosecute any person regardless of nationality, race, gender etcetera, who violates the laws of the British Virgin Islands.

It also said: “The allegations being circulated by the press and persons are without merit and can easily attract civil and criminal liability”.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. and China Near Deal to Avert Rare-Earth Export Controls Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit
Justin time: Justin Herbert Shields Madison Beer with Impressive Reflex at Lakers Game
Russia’s President Putin Declares Burevestnik Nuclear Cruise Missile Ready for Deployment
Giuffre’s Memoir Alleges Maxwell Claimed Sexual Act with Clooney
House Republicans Move to Strip NYC Mayoral Front-Runner Zohran Mamdani of U.S. Citizenship
Record-High Spoiled Ballots Signal Voter Discontent in Ireland’s 2025 Presidential Election
Philippines’ Taal Volcano Erupts Overnight with 2.4 km Ash Plume
Albania’s Virtual AI 'Minister' Diella Set to 'Birth' Eighty-Three Digital Assistants for MPs
Tesla Unveils Vision for Optimus V3 as ‘Biggest Product of All Time’, Including Surgical Capabilities
Francis Ford Coppola Auctions Luxury Watches After Self-Financed Film Flop
Convicted Sex Offender Mistakenly Freed by UK Prison Service Arrested in London
United States and China Begin Constructive Trade Negotiations Ahead of Trump–Xi Summit
U.S. Treasury Sanctions Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro over Drug-Trafficking Allegations
Miss USA Crowns Nebraska’s Audrey Eckert Amid Leadership Overhaul
‘I Am Not Done’: Kamala Harris Signals Possible 2028 White House Run
NBA Faces Integrity Crisis After Mass Arrests in Gambling Scandal
Swift Heist at the Louvre Sees Eight French Crown Jewels Stolen in Under Seven Minutes
U.S. Halts Trade Talks with Canada After Ontario Ad Using Reagan Voice Triggers Diplomatic Fallout
Microsoft AI CEO: ‘We’re making an AI that you can trust your kids to use’ — but can Microsoft rebuild its own trust before fixing the industry’s?
China and Russia Deploy Seductive Espionage Networks to Infiltrate U.S. Tech Sector
Apple’s ‘iPhone Air’ Collapses After One Month — Another Major Misstep for the Tech Giant
Graham Potter Begins New Chapter as Sweden Head Coach on Short-Term Deal
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa Alleges Poison Plot via Chocolate and Jam
Lakestar to Halt External Fundraising as Investor in Revolut and Spotify
U.S. Innovation Ranking Under Scrutiny as China Leads Output Outputs but Ranks 10th
Three Men Arrested in London on Suspicion of Spying for Russia
Porsche Reverses EV Strategy as New CEO Bets on Petrol and Hybrids
Singapore’s Prime Minister Warns of ‘Messy’ Transition to Post-American Global Order
Andreessen Horowitz Sets Sights on Ten-Billion-Dollar Fund for Tech Surge
US Administration Under President Donald Trump Reportedly Lifts Ban on Ukraine’s Use of Storm Shadow Missiles Against Russia
‘Frightening’ First Night in Prison for Sarkozy: Inmates Riot and Shout ‘Little Nicolas’
White House Announces No Imminent Summit Between Trump and Putin
US and Qatar Warn EU of Trade and Energy Risks from Tough Climate Regulation
Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Crackdown in Landmark Court Battle
Nicolas Sarkozy begins five-year prison term at La Santé in Paris
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
×