Haitian Migrants Apprehended

#TheBahamas, September 29, 2021 – The Royal Bahamas Defence Force intercepted another Haitian Sailing Vessel off Ragged Island Wednesday morning.

The Operations Communications Center at Coral Harbour Base on receipt of intelligence reports from Operations Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT), dispatched a RBDF surveillance aircraft who confirmed, shortly before 11:00 am that a Haitian sloop was seen twenty-four (24) nautical miles east of Ragged Island. HMBS LAWRENCE MAJOR and LIGNUM VITAE were directed to intercept the target of interest.

On arrival to the area, the RBDF team discovered the Haitian migrants on the vessel. One hundred and thirty-seven (137) migrants were removed from the Haitian Sailing Vessel. These individuals will be taken to Matthew Town, Inagua, to be handed over to Immigration officials for further processing.

These migrants will join the four hundred and twenty-three (423) migrants, who are currently being housed on the island. Of this total, two hundred and seventy-eight (287) are being held at a church hall and one hundred and forty-four (144) at the newly acquired warehouse.

Two hundred and ninety-two (292) migrants were also removed from Flamingo cay and adjacent cays in the Ragged Island chain on Tuesday after their vessel became disabled. These individuals are currently aboard HMBS LAWRENCE MAJOR, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Omarv Saunders.

HMBS LAWRENCE MAJOR will proceed to Matthew Town Inagua with a total of four hundred and twenty-nine (429) (one deceased) Haitian migrants onboard along with medical and food supplies and additional security detail to render assistance.

Immigration officials have confirmed that repatriation of the migrants is expected to commence Thursday 30 September.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force has maintained a vigilant watch with patrol vessels that have been deployed to the southeast Bahamas to strengthen the Force’s posture against the migrant surge. The organization remains committed to collaborating with local and international partner agencies while protecting the territorial integrity of The Bahamas and keeping our borders secured.

 (RBDF Photo shows Haitian migrants onboard HMBS LAWRENCE MAJOR on the way to Inagua)

(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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