By Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
July 18, 2025 – A historic cocaine seizure by Haitian authorities has left at least three men dead and others critically injured,
following a bloody and chaotic incident at sea on Sunday, July 13. The event, which Haitian police say resulted in the recovery of nearly 100 kilograms of illicit drugs, has turned tragic and controversial, with Bahamian and Jamaican citizens at the center of the operation.
The scene, captured in disturbing video footage released by the Haitian National Police, showed two bloodied men aboard a speedboat. Their bodies were visibly torn by what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds — blood soaked parts of the vessel. The Jamaican man appeared near death, weak from both the injuries and the sun. In the footage, Haitian police officers are seen dousing him with cool water in an effort to stabilize him. His condition remains unknown.
The Bahamian survivor, still alert, was seen speaking on camera, identifying himself and acknowledging involvement. In a separate
video obtained by Magnetic Media, the same man is seen later, lying barely conscious on a stretcher, appearing gravely wounded and struggling to breathe.
The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Sunday that it received unverified reports via its embassy in Port-au-Prince that three Bahamian males and one Jamaican male were on a boat when they were shot at by unknown individuals. Two Bahamians were reportedly killed and one hospitalized.
Haitian police accounts offered a different version, stating they intercepted a rowboat heavily laden with drugs. That report claims two Jamaican citizens drowned, one of whom was taken to the morgue, and that a Bahamian is in police custody.
The discrepancy between the reports has generated significant confusion, with details still emerging. Both Haitian and Bahamian
officials have not confirmed who fired the shots, or what precisely led to the violent confrontation.
Adding another layer to the investigation, regional sources suspect the drugs were being trafficked either from Jamaica to Haiti or vice versa — making the Jamaican citizens potentially key figures in the suspected inter-island smuggling route.
The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated:
“We still await the formal notification from the Haitian government as to what transpired on Sunday, July 13. We are in touch with the authorities and are pressing them to respond.”
The Ministry added that it is providing support to the affected families in The Bahamas.
Meanwhile, both The Bahamas and the United States have reissued “Do Not Travel” advisories for Haiti, as the security situation continues to decline. Armed gangs remain in control of major areas, and the United Nations reports that over 5.2 million Haitians are facing food insecurity amid ongoing civil collapse.
While Haitian authorities call the operation a milestone in counter-narcotics enforcement, the lack of clear answers — and the evident human toll — has cast a long shadow over the bust.
This is a developing story.
