A total of one hundred and forty five (145) migrants were apprehended on Sunday, March 5, 2023, following the combined efforts of Operations Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT), the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF).The RBDF Operations Command Center received information from an OPBAT aircraft of the sighting of a reported Haitian Sailing Vessel with an undetermined amount of persons onboard. HMBS NASSAU under the command of Lieutenant Commander Jataro McDonald was dispatched to the area.The USCG Cutter Tampa intercepted the Haitian vessel on behalf of the RBDF west of Cay Santo Domingo along the southern border of the Great Bahama Bank. The migrants were removed from their vessel onto the USCG Cutter, which is awaiting rendezvous with HMBS NASSAU. This recent apprehension is on the heels of another Haitian apprehension off Yellow Cay, Andros, where 127 migrants were apprehended by law enforcement and local agencies. It is the intent of the Commander Defence Force, Commodore Raymond King, to maintain partnerships with local law enforcement agencies and regional partners through joint effort and sharing of information as a force multiplier to address current and potential challenges in pursuit of “Guarding Our Heritage”.
