NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A team from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the Department of Immigration apprehended 127 Haitian immigrants following an illegal landing on the western coast of Andros.
In a statement, the Department of Immigration advised that routine patrols and surveillance discovered a vessel carrying unlawful entrants from the Republic of Haiti off the remote western coast of Andros on Friday.
The department said due to the location, 116 men, nine women and two minors were not apprehended until Sunday morning.
The department said preliminary investigations indicate the vessel travelled near Cuban waters and was headed for the United States.
“This appears to be an increasing trend to avoid interception in Bahamian waters,” the statement read.
“A team from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the Department of Immigration was immediately dispatched to investigate and apprehend the unlawful entrants. Initial aerial surveillance showed distressed persons seeking assistance.”
It added: “The unlawful entrants are presently being transported by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force to New Providence. The Department of Immigration is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that the unlawful entrants are repatriated as quickly as possible.”
The department advised the public to report violations of immigration laws or suspected unlawful landings to local law enforcement or the Department of Immigration at (242) 604-0172 or (242) 604-0196. Information can also be forwarded via the Department’s website at www.immigration.gov.bs under the tab “Contact us!’
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