(18) Haitian nationals are expected to be arraigned before Magistrate Turnquest this morning, 12th February 2019 to answer charges of Illegal Entry.

This group of (17) Males and (1) Female that were rescued from a vessel that is believed to have struck a reef and subsequently sank in waters near Fowl Cay off Man-O-War Cay, Abaco on February 1st 2019. It is alleged that (87) persons were on board. However, a captain was not identified in regards to this unfortunate tragedy.

The joint rescue operation was conducted by officers of the Department of Immigration’s Enforcement Unit with the assistance of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Royal Bahamas Defense Force, and the U.S Coast Guard along with private citizens of the community.

We wish to remind the general public that we are committed to carrying out the mandates of our agency to combat illegal migration, by establishing effective border control management to ensure compliance with the Statute Laws of our Country.

End.