RBDF: 54 Migrants Caught in Waters Off of Exuma With Narcotics

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Defence Force apprehended illegal migrants in Bahamian waters early Monday morning.

Following the apprehension, the HMBS Madeira arrived at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Coral Harbour Base just after 7PM on Monday.

On board, 54 Haitian nationals, including 47 men, 6 women and one minor.

The group was offloaded by Defence Force and immigration officers, and once on shore, they were then fingerprinted and processed.

The sloop used to transport the migrants was also towed to the base.

Captain Derrick Ferguson tells reporters they came across the boat near Norman’s Cay.

Captain Derrick Ferguson – Royal Bahamas Defence Force

“A boarding team was placed on board the vessel, and as a result, they [found] migrants, suspected Haitians, to be on board the vessel with an undisclosed amount of narcotics that was on board as well.”

Bricks of suspected were drugs laid out, with cellphones and other devices.

While they couldn’t tell us the weight and street value of the drugs, it’s believed to be a mixture of cocaine and marijuana.

So what about the captain in charge of the sloop?

Commanding Officer Nicholas Cartwright explains that, “the gentleman that we identified as the captain was the individual responsible for the seamanship of navigation of the vessel, he was in possession of the equipment in the area of the performance and responsibilities of a master of vessel.”