A total eighty-seven (87) migrants, inclusive of (26) Females, (59) Males and (2) minors were turned over to the Department of Immigration at Matthew Town last evening by Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) and United States Coast Guard Cutter, Diligence. This group was detected by Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) while on a routine patrol in waters on the southeastern end of Great Inagua.

The Department has deployed a team led by Mr. Peter Joseph, Superintendent, on November 13, 2019, to assist RBDF and the United States Coastguard in this exercise. The team of officers is joined by trained tracking canine, Bella of the K-9 Unit which is headed by Officer David Rolle. The search and rescue mission will continue throughout the day, due to reports of migrants who have escaped the vessel and are stranded on the East End Point sandbank in Inagua.

Today, a joint team of Law Enforcement Officers departed Lynden Pindling International Airport at 8:08 AM en-route to Port-au-Prince, Haiti with a total of (113) convicted (adult) Haitian nationals under Deportation Order onboard a Bahamasair flight. This group included (97) Males and (13) Females and (3) minors. This repatriation team was led by Mr. Denaj Wilchombe along with RBDF officers. The Department will continue its commitment to carrying out the mandates of our agency to combat illegal migration by establishing effective border control management in compliance with the Statute Laws of our country.

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