Authorities in Eleuthera on Thursday June 4th were back in South Eleuthera, as they continued to search for and apprehend illegal immigrants that landed on a beach in the Bannerman Town area sometime between Tuesday night June 2nd and Wednesday morning June 3rd. A team of police and immigration officers canvassed a rugged area between Bannerman Town and the coast on Wednesday day and evening and took into custody a total of 49 people suspected of landing illegally consisting of – (7) Children, (14) Females and (28) Males.
On Thursday, authorities received reports of two additional vessels sighted off of the Bannerman Town area and were dispatched to investigate. By midday on Thursday, they reported the apprehension of 13 more illegal immigrants who were discovered in an abandoned house in Wemyss Bight, and shortly after another 7 people were detained on the Bannerman Town beach.
These immigrants are in addition to approximately 24 apprehended earlier in the week in Central Eleuthera. Additionally, police reported that sadly, the body of a deceased male washed ashore on the north side of Windermere Island in the area where a small sail boat carrying the immigrants had been located. A further eight suspected illegal immigrants were also detained on Monday night in the Windermere region of Savannah Sound and in North Eleuthera.
Arrest In Reference to Immigration Purposes
Also on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2015, Officers from the Rock Sound Police Station arrested an adult Bahamian Male in reference to harbouring Illegal immigrants. This matter is under active investigation.
According to the Department of Immigration:
Three Haitian nationals and a Bahamian national will be charged under the amended Immigration Act for harbouring illegal persons. In the case of the three Haitian nationals, who are work permit holders, three illegal migrants were found and arrested at their place of residence, Bannerman Town Eleuthera; several other persons fled from their home and escaped arrest. The Bahamian, a resident of Weymss Bight, Eleuthera, is also in custody as five illegal migrants were found at his home.
The captains of the two vessels involved in this latest incident were identified. Both will be charged for assisting in these illegal landings.
In addition, another body was found at James Cistern, Eleuthera. This brings to two the number of deaths associated with this incident.
Another Haitian national, living in the Bahamas without status, is to be charged with damaging public property when he intentionally damaged an Immigration vehicle.
