There has also been an association with human trafficking and illegal migration. A month or so ago a larger inflatable disappeared in the middle of the night from Saba, the same night a boatload of illegals was discovered on that end of Virgin Gorda.

Dinghies have disappeared from West End, probably for similar reasons. At one point it was felt that flights from Beef to Santo Domingo served as a route for those who couldn't fly through US airports, and instead used the St. John-West End route. This is in addition to "entrepreneurial" runs. A group of illegals was picked up on their way to West End this morning.