The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN man accused of trying to smuggle 18 people from Bimini into Florida was arrested after the overloaded boat lost steering and began taking on water about 22 miles off Miami-Dade County, according to a US federal complaint.

Henryk Erris Walkes was taken into custody on August 18 after US law enforcement tracked the westbound vessel and moved in when it appeared to be in distress.

According to a criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Florida, officers found 19 people aboard the boat, including Walkes, far exceeding its passenger capacity.

US Department of Homeland Security Special Agent Joshua Viera said Walkes was identified as the vessel’s driver.

“Ultimately, the suspect vessel had a total of nineteen individuals, including Walkes,” the complaint said. “CBP MIAs also identified Walkes as the driver of the subject vessel and saw Walkes handing what appeared to be handfuls of cash back to the other individuals on board.”

Authorities said tracking data showed the vessel had travelled from Bimini towards Miami.

After boarding the boat, agents conducted immigration inspections and record checks which allegedly showed that none of the 19 people aboard, including Walkes, had proper documentation to enter or remain in the United States.

The group was transferred to the US Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge for processing.

Among those aboard were Haitian national Azain Vassor, Dominican Republic national Darwis Campusano Carela and Honduran national Wilson Mendoza Flores.

US authorities said further checks showed that all three men had previously been deported from the United States.

They were charged with illegal entry.

Walkes was charged with encouraging or inducing undocumented migrants to enter the United States.