A vessel carrying Haitian passengers was reported to have landed along the Jamaican coast late Sunday night into the early hours of Monday.
The exact number of individuals on the vessel remains unknown.
Alerted residents notify authorities
Reports are that residents of the area first noticed the boat’s presence during the early hours of Monday and alerted local law enforcement.
Upon arrival at the scene, the police discovered items of clothing believed to belong to women and children.
Discovery leads to Hope Bay
The search eventually led the authorities to the Hope Bay area, where a vehicle was intercepted.
Inside the vehicle, law enforcement officers discovered eight Haitian individuals, including women.
Among this group, one individual was identified as having resided in Jamaica for a significant period, specifically in St. James.
Following their discovery, the Haitians were taken into custody for processing.
Previous incidents
There has been an influx of Haitians arriving illegally in Jamaica.
Approximately 30 Haitian migrants, including adults and children, made landfall in Long Bay, Portland, Jamaica last month
According to reports, Jamaican authorities believe that some of them were among the group of refugees that landed here in September and were sent back.
In July, 37 Haitians landed on Boston Beach in Portland and have since applied for asylum in Jamaica.
Many Haitians have fled their country due to political instability, gang violence, economic hardship, and natural disasters.
This has resulted in an increasing number of Haitians embarking on dangerous journeys in search of better prospects.
