100 Haitian migrants apprehended near Inagua

100 Haitian migrants apprehended near Inagua

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A sailing vessel with 100 undocumented Haitian nationals onboard was intercepted by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), approximately 30 nautical miles northwest of Inagua around 2:20 p.m. last Thursday,  June 20, 2019.

A statement released this weekend by the RBDF, outlined that the apprehension was a joint exercise with Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) with the support of the Bahamas Immigration Department.

According to the RBDF, the OPBAT helicopter spotted the vessel and the Defence Force interceptor stationed in Inagua subsequently apprehended it.

The vessel was later assisted by HMBS Livingstone Smith.

The Interceptor was coxswained by Petty Officer Ronnie Neymour and HMBS Livingstone Smith was under the command of Senior Lieutenant Valentino Rolle.

The migrants,  89 males and 11 females, were transported to Inagua where they were handed over to Immigration authorities for processing.