On June 9, acting on intelligence provided by Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT), the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) successfully apprehended a Haitian sailing freighter (HSF) transporting 65 Haitian migrants (54 males and 11 females) in waters 35 nautical miles north of Tortue, Haiti. The vessel was subsequently sunk to prevent further unauthorized maritime activity.
The RBDF surface asset, HMBS Kamalamee, was deployed to the area to receive the migrants
and safely transport them to the Turks and Caicos Islands for further processing. In a related operation, an additional 108 Haitian migrants were apprehended several hours earlier near the Cay Sal Banks. This brings the total number of migrants recently apprehended to 173, demonstrating the effectiveness of our comprehensive maritime agreements and coordinated efforts.
Commodore Raymond E. King reaffirmed his dedication to fostering enhanced collaboration between the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and both local law enforcement agencies and regional partners. He emphasized that through joint operations and proactive information sharing, these strategic alliances act as force multipliers, effectively addressing both current and potential challenges.
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains committed to protecting the territorial integrity of
The Bahamas by maintaining a continued presence in keeping our borders secured through
partnerships with local and international agencies.
