BAHAMAS: Haitian Migrants apprehended at Sea

#Bahamas, December 27, 2017 – Nassau – Earlier today, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force was successful in apprehending a Haitian sailing sloop attempting to gain entrance into the southern Bahamas earlier today.

HMBS Leon SMITH, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Stephen Rolle, was on patrol in the southern Bahamas when it intercepted, boarded and subsequently detained the vessel some 30 miles southwest of Great Inagua.  The number of migrants on board are undetermined at this time.

The vessel was sighted and reported to the Defence Force’s Operations Command Center by a USCG fixed wing asset which was also operating in the area resulting in its apprehension by HMBS LEON SMITH.   The Defence Force has been involved in the apprehension of 1,200 migrants, mostly Haitian nationals for the year.

This latest apprehension is in keeping with the Commander Defence Forces’s continued commitment to maximize use of resources to monitor our marine and coastal territory to prevent poachers, trafficking and smuggling of people, wildlife and illicit goods through our borders.   Updates will follow as information becomes available.

Photo shows: Migrants onboard Haitian sloop in the southern Bahamas.

 (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