The
Department of Immigration wishes to advise the public that during a
joint routine marine patrol operation with the Royal Bahamas Police
Force, a vessel with ninety-three males and nineteen females suspected
to be illegal migrants on board was interdicted six miles off Barre
Tarre Exuma on 25th December 2014. The migrants are believed to be Haitian Nationals.
The
migrants are currently detained in Exuma while arrangements are being
made with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force to transport them to New
Providence for further processing and repatriation to their home
country.
The
Royal Bahamas Defence has also reported to the Department of
Immigration the sighting of yet another vessel believed to be
transporting illegal migrants. A defence force patrol boat has been
dispatched to interdict this migrant vessel.
The
two interdictions and one sighting bring the total number of illegal
migrant vessels in Bahamian waters to three in the past three days.
The
Department will continue to update the general public as these events
develop and unfold. The work of the department goes on.