By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A Bahamian man and a Haitian man are in US custody in connection with an alleged human smuggling operation last week that resulted in the apprehension of 19 illegal migrants at sea.
Four children, between ages one and two, were among the group discovered in US waters.
The Bahamian, along with a Haitian accomplice, is expected to face prosecution in the US in relation to human trafficking.
According to reports, US Coast Guards interdicted a 26ft centre console Bahamian registered vessel about 10 miles east of Lakeworth inlet.
A Bahamian was captaining vessel. There were 10 males and nine females on board of mixed nationalities, including two Brazilians, one Ecuadorian, and 16 Haitian nationals.
The group claimed they left Freeport last Wednesday evening, and were apprehended by the USCG around 1pm on Thursday.
The USCG Robert Yered brought the group to Grand Bahama on Saturday, July 24, around 1pm at Freeport Harbour, where they were turned over to Immigration officials.
They were taken to Immigration Headquarters for processing and examined by staff from the Disease and Surveillance Unit of the Public Hospitals Authority.
Comments
dwanderer 3 years, 3 months ago
Asking with no sarcasm intended and seeking a genuine answer, if they were 10 miles from the Lakeworth inlet in US waters, why was the group brought back to Grand Bahama?
mandela 3 years, 3 months ago
EXACTLY.
aware 3 years, 3 months ago
A very good question, this is what happens when they catch those Haitian sloops coming to America, they bring them back into Bahamian waters and hand them over to our Defense Force for processing so that they can be a burden to our country.
thephoenix562 3 years, 3 months ago
US policy.At sea you are returned from where you departed from.Different policy if they had made it to US soil.We agreed to this many years ago.Even Cubans are treated the same way .
aware 3 years, 3 months ago
If that is the policy that we agreed to then why are the sloops that leave from Haiti are being turned over to the defense force as well.
Sickened 3 years, 3 months ago
Because we can only get any money and jewelry they have on them when they are checked in to our facilities.
aware 3 years, 3 months ago
If that is the policy that we agreed to then why are the sloops that leave from Haiti are being turned over to the defense force as well.Strong
themessenger 3 years, 3 months ago
They're just using President G W Bushes interpretation of Roe Vs Wade as policy, "don't matter how they get ashore, row or wade, send 'em back!"
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