Joint Effort results in third Group of Foreign Fishermen in past two weeks
Coral Harbour Base, 23 DEC. ‘18 (RBDF): A joint effort by the US Coast Guard Operations Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) on Saturday afternoon has resulted in the apprehension of 4 Dominican fishermen in Bahamian waters.
A US Coast Guard helicopter operating out of Inagua under the OPBAT program reported the sighting of a 20-ft small go-fast vessel southeast of Great Inagua to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in Inagua. Shortly thereafter, the RBDF patrol craft P-128, coxswained by Petty Officer Edison Rolle, was dispatched to intercept the vessel. The vessel was subsequently apprehended and taken to Inagua.
On board the vessel were 4 Dominican fishermen along with fishing apparatus and a grouper. The men along with the boat and fishing apparatus were taken into custody and handed over to Police and Immigration officials at Great Inagua.
On December 17, 7 Dominican fishermen were apprehended by patrol craft P-128 aboard 2 go- fast type vessel with several compressors and containers of gasoline off Great Inagua.
Prior to this, on December 1, another 7 Dominican fishermen were apprehended by patrol craft P-128 off Inagua with over 300 pounds of fish. The poachers have since been charged before the courts on several counts resulting in sentences up to 9 months and $413,000 in fines.
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force continues to protect and safeguard the territorial integrity of The Bahamas.
(For further information please contact the RBDF Public Relations Department or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and view our Youtube channel)
-rbdf-
#GuardOurHeritage
#MarlinSpike
Stay Connected