Bahamas, July 24, 2017 – Inagua – Over 80 Haitian migrants were apprehended in the southern Bahamas Thursday afternoon during an exercise carried out jointly by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Immigration authorities, and U.S.-led Operation Bahamas and Turks and Caicos (OPBAT).
Shortly after 7:00 pm Thursday, an American sailing vessel with suspected migrants aboard was spotted aground by an OPBAT helicopter in waters off Little Inagua. Just over 30 migrants were transported from the wreck and Little Inagua Island to Great Inagua with the assistance of an OPBAT helicopter.
The Defence Force patrol craft, HMBS Arthur Dion Hanna under the command of Lieutenant Commander Berne Wright, also participated in the migrant operation and was assisted by Defence Force Marines stationed at HMBS Matthew Town in Great Inagua in apprehending an additional 56 migrants off Little Inagua.
Just under 20 of the migrants were flown out of Great Inagua to the capital on Saturday for medical attention. The remainder will be transported to the Capital where they will be turned over to Immigration officials for further processing.
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains committed to defending the territorial integrity of The Bahamas and keeping our borders secured and waters safe.
(For further information please contact the RBDF Public Relations Department or visit our website: www.rbdf.gov.bs, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and view our Youtube channel) -rbdf-
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Press Release: RBDF
