Royal Bahamas Defence Force apprehends Foreign Poachers

#Nassau, July 8, 2018 – Bahamas – Royal Bahamas Defence Force Marines apprehended a foreign fishing vessel with fishery products onboard on Friday afternoon within the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.

While conducting a routine patrol approximately one and a half miles southeast of Warderick Wells Cay within the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Defence Force Marines assigned to the area, along with the Park Warden spotted a 63 foot American registered pleasure craft with six Americans onboard.  A further search of the boat resulted in the discovery of an undetermined amount of scale fish onboard.  The men were cautioned and taken into custody.

Patrol craft P-45 coxswained by Chief Petty Officer Theodore Thompson was dispatched to the area, and brought the men and their catch to the capital on Saturday morning.  The apprehension occurred shortly after the closing ceremony for a week-long Marine Conservation Workshop for Law Enforcement personnel at the Defence Force Base that was hosted by Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation.

In June of this year, Defence Force Marines and the Park Warden apprehended two Bahamians in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park with over $160,000 worth of drugs.  The drugs were turned over to Police where the suspects pleaded not guilty and were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.  The case is currently ongoing.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force continues to protect the territorial integrity of The Bahamas.

Photo shows: Captured vessel suspected of poaching entering the Defence Force Base on July 7, 2018.  The vessel was apprehended in the area of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Parks on Friday afternoon.

Release: RBDF

(RBDF photo by Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Rolle)

(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)

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