Four migrants charged in GB on Friday with immigration offences.
By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
SEVENTEEN migrants of mixed nationalities who were being smuggled illegally to the United States from Grand Bahama were intercepted at sea and turned over to Department of Immigration authorities this week.
According to reports, the immigrants were with six other people on board a vessel intercepted by the US Coast Guard some 11 miles east of Pompano, Florida. Those six were detained by American authorities to face prosecution in the US.
Immigration officer Napthali Cooper reported that two Chinese, one Colombian, and 14 Haitians, including two minors, were handed over to immigration officials at Freeport Harbour at 3pm on Sunday by officials of the USCG Cutter Bernard Webber.
Mr Cooper reported that while on routine patrol on Friday, February 28, the USCG Cutter Webber spotted an unlit 25ft cabin cruiser heading in a western course towards Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Mr Cooper noted that 23 persons were initially discovered on board the boat. He said the US Cutter Webber brought the 17 migrants back to Grand Bahama.
The immigrants were processed at Depart of Immigration headquarters. Some of the migrants are expected to be charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court sometime this week.
Meanwhile four immigrants were charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court for breach of the Immigration Act with two of them additionally charged with possession of a forged landing stamp.
Cecilia De Jesus Carchi Morocho, 29; Juan Bautista Chillogalli, 29; Blanca Mariela Suarez Salazar, 33 - all from Ecuador - and Wuendy Del Carmen Araujo De Nery, 41, of Venezuela appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson on Friday. The immigrants were all charged with overstaying and pleaded guilty.
According to the particulars, police in High Rock received information on February 27 and went to an apartment complex in East Grand Bahama where they discovered four people who had overstayed their visitor’s status.
On further investigation, it was discovered two of the immigrants had also acquired fraudulent immigration stamps in their passports. Morocho and Chillogalli were also charged with possession of a forged landing stamp, knowing the same to be obtained by fraudulent means with intent to deceive an immigration officer. The pair pleaded guilty to the charge.
On the charge of overstaying, the magistrate ordered the four immigrants to pay a fine of $300 each or four months imprisonment.
On the charge of possession of forged landing stamp, the pair was fined $2,500 each or ordered to serve 18 months in prison.
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