Overcrowded Migrant Boat Rescued Near Turks and Caicos

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Maritime Operations discovered a dangerously overcrowded boat with approximately 240 migrants near the Turks and Caicos Islands. Authorities noted that the vessel was nearly submerged and at risk of sinking before the rescue.

On May 31, a multipurpose enforcement aircraft from the Jacksonville Air and Sea Branch spotted the 50-foot Haitian wooden boat about 105 miles south of the islands. The boat, equipped with two outboard engines, was en route north, carrying 240 individuals.

The AMO crew swiftly relayed the boat’s location to local authorities, continuously updating them on its speed and direction. Shortly afterward, they handed over monitoring duties to a U.S. Coast Guard aircraft. It became clear that the vessel had lost one engine and was taking on water at a troubling rate of about 3 to 5 gallons per minute.

Drew Gellerson, the air and marine operations chief in Jacksonville, emphasized the crew’s training for such critical situations. He pointed out that the successful collaboration with partners was vital for ensuring the passengers’ safety. “This incident underscores the need for international cooperation to protect lives at sea,” he stated.

As night fell, authorities reported that the boat was “dead in the water.” Passengers were actively trying to remove water from the ship. In response, officials from the Turks and Caicos Islands dispatched four vessels to carry out the rescue. By shortly after midnight, a rescue ship successfully reached the boat and rescued the migrants.

According to officials, the group consisted of 191 adult males, 44 adult females, and five minors. They were taken into custody by local law enforcement before being transported to the U.S. territory.

The nationalities of the migrants have not been disclosed, and an investigation into this precarious smuggling case is ongoing.