The U.S. Coast Guard turned over fifty one migrants to Bahamian authorities that were apprehended near the Cay Sal Bank. Dr. Raymond King, Commodore of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, confirmed the apprehension of the migrants. He said, “the particular vessel was being monitored early on and there was an intensive search for that vessel cause we had intelligence on that vessel. Initially, it was reported to be moving towards Abaco along the eastern seaboard and so we had to shift resources to cover the eastern seaboard and we realized eventually that somehow it ended up on the western side of South Andros. So we sought the United States Coast Guard’s assistance with that apprehension, cause it was done in our waters, and those fifty one migrants will be handed over to immigration officials in Grand Bahama.”
Commodore King further stated that, “most of those migrant movements now are moving towards the United States but we are still seeing some deliberate attempts to surprise us here to reach New Providence.”
The Commodore also updated members of the media on an incident involving poachers which the RBDF shadowed out of Bahamian waters. He said that poachers are “now seeking to time our fishes when the season opens. They usually go out for about a month and then they leave to come in to bring in their catch and that is when the poachers feel as though its safe but as they come they will meet the Defence Force there in position.”
