Police Uncover Suspected Smuggling Ring

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Police arrested 31 people, last night, in connection with a suspected human smuggling ring. However, several other suspects escaped in two boats.

Vaughnique Toote has the details.

Two Romanians, eight Cubans, eight Colombians, six Jamaicans, and seven Bahamians were taken into custody last night after police uncovered a suspected smuggling ring on West Bay Street.

The men were handcuffed and escorted by heavily armed officers onto this bus while the women were transported in a separate vehicle.

Police Press Liaison ASP Audley Peters said it all started with a call to the police control room about suspicious activity in the area.

Police and Defence Force Officers swarmed the property in search of suspects. Thirty-one people were arrested.

The Marine Unit was dispatched in pursuit of the suspects who escaped on two of the boats while Drug Enforcement Unit and Defense Force Officers searched the remaining three vessels.

Peters said the next step is determining whether those foreign nationals are in the country legally.

As for their suspicions of human trafficking, the assistant superintendent said if the foreigners are not here legally, the matter will be referred to immigration officials. He applauded the concerned citizens who alerted authorities.