10 illegal Haitian migrants : 2 men, 2 women and 6 minors (5 girls and one boy), traveling on board a 30-foot Cuddy Cabin vessel from Grand Bahama to the United States, were intercepted at sea the past week about 10 miles east of Boynton Beach, Florida by the US Coast Guard and taken to Freeport at Grand Bahama on Thursday.

Immigration officer Napthali Cooper announced that the USGC Cutter Bernard C Webber had arrived at Freeport around 5:30 pm with the migrants who were handed over to the Bahamas immigration officers.

A man of Bahamian origin suspected of smuggler and captain of the ship, along with five other people, were arrested by the US Coast Guard and taken to the United States for further investigation and possible charges of human trafficking.

He added that the four Haitian adults should be charged in the Bahamas of illegal landing and embarkation courts, while the underage would be transported to New Providence pending repatriation to Haiti.

HL/ HaitiLibre