A Point Fortin man has been arrested for harbouring five illegal Venezuelan nationals in his home.

Additionally, 14 Venezuelan nationals are in custody for illegally entering the country on Saturday night.

In a release on Sunday, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) stated officers attached to the South Western Division had arrested a total of 19 Venezuelan nationals and a 30-year-old Point Fortin man during anti-crime operations conducted on Saturday.

The TTPS stated officers of the South Western Division and Point Fortin CID, arrested a Point Fortin man after five illegal Venezuelan nationals, ages 20 to 33, were found at his home.

In the Erin district, officers were alerted by the Marine Interdiction Unit that a number of Venezuelan nationals had been spotted on a beach after entering the country illegally.

The TTPS stated a total of 14 Venezuelan nationals, ages 5 to 40, were discovered hiding behind a pirogue on a beach on Saturday night.

The group was taken into custody, and both the Immigration Division and the Children’s Authority were contacted.

Investigations into both matters are ongoing.