Search mounted for illegal Haitian migrants in The Bahamas

NASSAU, Bahamas,  CMC – Bahamian authorities say they were searching for illegal Haitian migrants after several people from the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country were detained following a joint operation involving the police, immigration, and Defence Force soldiers over the weekend.

The Defence Force said that on Sunday, a 35 feet a Haitian sloop made landfall off Venice Bay, South New Providence and that the efforts by the security forces resulted in the capture of 26 migrants, who were turned over to immigration officials for further processing.

The statement said that the search for other migrants is ongoing.

It did not say how many others are on the run.

The Defence Force has apprehended 13 migrant smuggling vessels since May last year resulting in more than 1,000 illegal immigrants being held.

“Prior to this most recent incident, Marines were deployed to key areas along the coastline of New Providence in support of vessels patrolling offshore.  However, much of the Defence Force’s land-based, maritime and air operations have been hampered by adverse weather conditions over the past several days,” the statement said.

The Defence Force also said that it is conducting active patrols in response to reports received concerning various illegal activities occurring in the northern and southern Bahamas.

These activities include overfishing by American sports fishermen, as well as migrant smuggling in Grand Bahama, Bimini, and the Abacos, in addition to reports of fishermen from the Dominican Republic poaching in the southern Bahamas.

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