The parents of two 'Romeo and Juliet' runaway pupils have flown out to the Dominican Republic to be in place to meet their children when police track them down.
Police have been searching beaches and hotels for the teenagers who ran away from their British boarding school four days ago.
However, Indira Gainiyeva, who turns 17 on Friday, and Edward Bunyan, 16, have so far eluded police, though they are believed to be staying in the coastal town of Puerto Plata.
Police said the teens will not be 'dragged home in handcuffs' when they are found, but they will have some explaining to do to their parents.
The couple went missing from the private Stonyhurst College in Clitheroe, Lancashire, on Monday night.
Colonel Andres Perez Martinez, head of tourist police in Puerto Plata, said: "We don't know where they are. We are sending uniformed officers to the beaches and big hotels. You can count on us to find them."
He insisted: "It is not dangerous, they should be safe as long as they are careful with their possessions and don't wear expensive jewellery and gold watches.
"I don't want to tell you they are 100 per cent safe but they will be if they are careful."
Once they locate the runaways, the local police are expected to arrange for them to be reunited with their parents, who will have the final say about what happens to them next.