THE SLOOP pictured adrift when found off Goulding Cay. Photo: RBDF
THE Royal Bahamas Defence Force is actively searching for possible migrants after an empty sloop was found drifting in waters approximately eight nautical miles off Goulding Cay on Saturday.
In a statement, the RBDF said after the agency received initial reports from the US Coast Guard liaison officer that two Haitian sloops had left Haiti, air and sea assets were immediately deployed to conduct search operations in the areas of the possible routes taken by the sloops.
Additional assistance in the search also included aerial reconnaissance by a US Coast Guard fixed wing aircraft, a drone and members of the RBDF Commando Squadron Unit, which conducted searches on several cays in the Exuma chain.
“In addition to the extensive search operations, the Immigration Department also assisted with foot patrols along the southern shores of the capital, and the Royal Bahamas Police Force conducted shore and mobile patrols,” the RBDF said.
“Areas of interest included the northern and central islands of The Bahamas and surrounding cays, and inlets and shorelines of the capital. Currently, no evidence of an actual migrant landing has been detected along the southern coast of New Providence by immigration, police and defence force officers.”
The RBDF said as a result of the discovery of the abandoned Haitian sloop, “a thorough search has been launched by the relevant authorities to investigate the location of the possible migrants who may have been onboard”.
An active investigation is also underway to determine if the migrants may have been assisted at sea and taken to Nassau, or if they are abandoned along the cays in the Exumas.
Comments
mandela 3 years, 3 months ago
Lousy RBDF they are worthless, if any country wanted to invade the Bahamas we would be in deep trouble and taken prisoners while the RBDF sleeps as usual
SP 3 years, 3 months ago
Both PLP and FNM have proven beyond any doubt they are not serious about the illegal Haitian dilemma.
Haitians are the enemy-within that is destroying the very fabric of our country while the lousy PLP and FNM stand around talking bull shyt and rattling sabers ever so often for pure theatrics for idiots.
We need to rid ourselves of the PLP, FNM, and their damn Haitians!!
joeblow 3 years, 3 months ago
... right in time to vote in the next election!
Sickened 3 years, 3 months ago
I hope they perform a thorough investigation of the sloop and try to find the boats cloaking device. Hopefully the Haitians didn't remove the space technology before they abandoned ship!! I find it amazing that almost every Haitian sloop has invisibility technology and we still can't get working GPS' to stop from running aground.
AnObserver 3 years, 3 months ago
Spending hundreds of millions of dollars on drones and boats, but can't find a few hundred bucks for a sec of binoculars for someone to keep watch from Coral Harbour?
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