The Royal Bahamas Defence Force responded to a Search and Rescue alert after receiving a call around 7:00 p.m. Monday evening from the USCG who reported that they had in turn received a call from concerned family members reporting their loved ones on a boat missing.
On Tuesday 21 July just before 10:00 a.m., HMBS P-44 coxswained by Chief Petty Officer Acadia Smith, located the 27-foot, white cabin cruiser anchored just off the northeastern point of Great Isaacs, north of Bimini, where it had run aground. When it became evident that a migrant smuggling operation was underway, the vessel and its occupants—12 females (1 pregnant), 9 males and 2 infants, all believed to be of Haitian descent, were detained.
The migrants all appeared to be in good health and will be turned over to the relevant officials for processing.
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force continues to patrol our borders throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to dissuade, detect and intercept a myriad of transnational criminals seeking to threaten our sovereignty and territorial integrity.
