The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Immigration officers apprehended seven illegal Dominicans discovered at a resort in Freeport, Grand Bahama, on Tuesday.

Acting on information received, officers went to a resort in the Caravel Beach area, where it is alleged that the men were preparing to take steps to be smuggled into the United States. On arrival, the officers saw seven men hiding in bushes near a canal. They attempted to flee on foot, but were quickly apprehended by officers and taken to Immigration headquarters.

Immigration officer Napthali Cooper reported that the men claimed to have left the Dominican Republic five days ago by boat and arrived in Freeport on Sunday. Two had Dominican passports, which did not have a Bahamian immigration admittance stamp.

Mr Cooper said that one man admitted that he paid $1,300 for the boat ride from the Dominican Republic, while the others claimed to have only paid for fuel for the boat trip.

This is the second group apprehended within a week on Grand Bahama. Last Wednesday, seven Dominicans - six men and one woman - were also discovered at a resort in Freeport.

This latest group will be flown to New Providence, where they will be detained at the Detention Centre to await repatriation.