Government has taken ownership of MV Wealth, the Belize-flagged cargo vessel authorities intercepted and detained in June this year for illegally entering the country.

A government statement said the action was taken in line with the Immigration Act 2012.

“The Director of Immigration exercised powers under Section 58(1) of the Immigration Act 2012 to forfeit the vessel following a successful joint investigation into its illegal entry on 9th June 2026,” a government statement said.

Police and Customs officials who boarded the vessel off Rennell island discovered containers of cigarettes.

The containers have since been off-loaded and placed at the Honiara International port.

Director of Immigration Christopher Akosawa said he was satisfied with the investigation authorities undertook after MV Wealth was detained.

The vessel, which have on board Chinese and Indonesian crew,  was first sighted in Rennell and Bellona waters and was arrested by Police Maritime on 9th June 2026.

Police patrol boat PSIPV 05 Gizo responded, apprehended the vessel and escorted it to Honiara, where the Comptroller of Customs detained it under Customs legislation.

Akosawa said investigation found MV Wealth failed to meet legal requirements for entry into Solomon Islands.

He said under Section 43(1) of the Immigration Act 2012, the Master of MV Wealth failed to declare the vessel’s entry into Solomon Islands.

“As a result, the presence of its crew in Solomon Islands contravenes Section 28(1) of the Immigration Act, and they are deemed unlawful non-citizens.”

Following the Immigration investigation, Police have charged the Master and crew under the Immigration Act and Passport legislation.

Akosawa said the crew are currently remanded at the Rove Correctional Centre awaiting the conclusion of the case, after which they will be deported from Solomon Islands.