Agents from Haiti’s Brigade for the Fight against Drug Trafficking (BLTS) seized more than US$100,000 at Hugo Chavez Cap-Haïtien International Airport on March 1, intercepting the cash from a Bahamasair flight arriving from Nassau.
The large sum, transported without proper documentation or declaration, raised suspicions of potential money laundering or drug trafficking activities, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
The operation led to the arrest of two Haitian nationals, Lucken Clervilus and Erilène Bernadin, who are suspected of involvement in the case.
In a surprising turn of events, the flight attendant who allegedly handed the bag of cash to Clervilus managed to evade arrest. According to an anonymous source, the attendant quickly re-boarded the return flight to Nassau before authorities could detain her. The Haitian National Police (PNH) have not disclosed the flight attendant’s identity, and her current whereabouts remain unknown.
On Thursday, Bahamasair confirmed the incident, stating that it has launched an internal review and is cooperating with Haitian authorities, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and Interpol. The airline emphasized that it takes the matter seriously and assured the public that stringent security protocols are in place.
The airline said that no further updates would be given until they have been informed of further facts.
Sources at Hugo Chavez International Airport revealed that the seized cash originated from Nassau. The PNH has recently intensified security measures at the airport amid reports of fake visas, counterfeit tickets, and other fraudulent activities. The latest arrests bring the total number of detentions at the airport to at least five in the past week.
Bahamasair, wholly owned by the Bahamian government, previously suspended flights to Haiti in late 2024 following gunfire incidents at Port-au-Prince’s airport that injured crew members from other airlines. While flights to Cap-Haïtien have since resumed, the airline stated it continues to monitor the situation closely and will provide further updates as more information becomes available.
