16 animals found by the coast guard on a vessel with Venezuelan nationals have been euthanized.

On Saturday, the coast guard intercepted pirogue off the coast of Chaguaramas, with one Trinidadian national and five Venezuelan nationals.

There were also 13 sheep, two dogs and one chicken which were removed from the vessel at Coast Guard facilities in Staubles Bay.

At this location, the Agriculture Ministry says the animals were “humanely euthanized.”

It adds that decontamination efforts and disposal of the euthanized animals were completed by Sanitec Limited.