Two Bermuda Police officers assisting in a probe into a drowning tragedy off the Turks and Caicos Islands have returned home.

But three officers -- all fluent in the French-based Haitian tongue of Creole -- remain to assist in interviewing around 70 survivors of the sinking.

The team was sent to the Caribbean islands more than a week ago after a boat carrying suspected Haitian illegal immigrants capsized, drowning six, with claims that up to 24 people were missing.

Some of the survivors claimed warning shots fired by Turks and Caicos marine police hit the overloaded 40-foot sailing sloop being used to transport the refugees from poverty-stricken Haiti.

But it is understood that the Royal Turks and Caicos Police officers involved in the incident are likely to be cleared of any wrongdoing in their bid to get the sloop to heave to.

It is believed that passengers on the sloop heard the warning shots and rushed on deck, causing the run-down boat to capsize and sink.

Survivors claimed more than 20 people were missing after the sinking. But only six bodies have been recovered, despite an intensive air and sea search. None of the victims suffered gunshot wounds.

Det. Sgt. Keith Cassidy -- who led the team to Turks and Caicos -- said: "The interpreters were a big help to the local police because they have very few Creole-speaking officers.'' Det. Sgt. Cassidy and Bermuda scenes-of-crime officer Det. Cons. Eric Woods spent several days examining the hull of the sloop after it was raised from the seabed 15 miles off French Cay.

Det. Sgt. Cassidy declined to discuss details of the case -- but it is understood no evidence of gunfire was found.

The news came as Turks and Caicos Police announced two Haitian crew members on the sloop had been charged with conspiracy to break Turks and Caicos immigration rules.

The two, Willie LaFontant and Berne Poila, both of Cap Haitien, were remanded in custody until June 29.

Det. Sgt. Cassidy said a UK Coast Guard Agency investigator drafted in said the boat was dangerously overloaded.

The Coastguard official said the boat would never have been passed seaworthy in the UK and should at most have carried no more than 17 passengers and two crew.

Det. Sgt. Cassidy said: "Examining that boat and seeing the conditions these Haitians were travelling in to escape Haiti was horrifying.'' He added the Bermuda squad pulled their weight in the investigation, which threatened to swamp the less than 150-strong Turks and Caicos force.

Det. Sgt. Cassidy said: "It's always good to work with another Police force, exchange ideas and see what equipment they have which could be of use to us.

The Turks and Caicos force have digital cameras, for example, which we don't have yet.'' He added: "We worked very long hours, 12 hour days, but we were happy to help. We didn't get to see much of the place except a boatyard.'' The three Creole-speaking officers -- Sgt. Huron Vidal, Det. Con. Trevor Knight and Det. Con. Sylvester Augustine -- are expected to return to Bermuda at the end of the week.

A Royal Turks and Caicos Police spokesman said: "The inquiry continues and it is expected our officers will link up with their counterparts in Haiti to make further inquiries concerning the persons reported missing.'' AGROUND -- The Haitian sloop whose capsizing in the Turks and Caicos Islands is under investigation is shown in a Providenciales boatyard after being lifted out of the water.

ON THE CASE! -- Det. Sgt. Keith Cassidy.

IMMIGRATION IMM CRIME CRM