The Tribune

By MARIA JOSE CHONG

IMMIGRATION officials say they apprehended 30 Haitians near The Hole in the Wall, Abaco yesterday, bringing the number of suspected illegal immigrants detained within 24 hours to nearly 200.

According to Director or Immigration Jack Thompson, at about 9am Immigration officers from Marsh Harbour were told of a possible sloop drop-off in Sandy Point.

They found 26 men and four women who said they travelled from Port au Paix, Haiti in a wooden sloop.

They were examined by medical officials and found to be in good health.

The 30 Haitians were then sent to New Providence and will be housed at the Detention Centre until they are repatriated.

They join 80 illegal immigrants apprehended on Tuesday in Joe Farrington Road.

In total, 82 Haitians were discovered, however one woman was found dead and one man remains in hospital suffering from dehydration.

Police are investigating the woman’s death.

Meanwhile, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force reported detaining 62 Haitian immigrants in the central Bahamas yesterday morning.

This group was also apprehended at around 9am when Defence Force patrol craft HMBS P-48 spotted a sloop anchored just off Cistern Cay in the Exuma chain.

There were 51 men, seven women and four children on board, who according to the Defence Force did not have proper documentation to enter the country.

Five more immigrants were found on the cay.