Published 3 April 2023
Basseterre
Buckie Got It, St Kitts Nevis News Source
News Credit: Dominica News Online – Monday, April 3rd, 2023 at 12:38 PM
Two Antiguans arrested for human smuggling in St Kitts
Law enforcement authorities in St Kitts have confirmed that two Antigua and Barbuda nationals have been charged with suspicion of human smuggling.
The names of the two individuals have been withheld and it is still unclear when they will make their first appearance in court.
The men were among 32 people on board La Belle Michelle; a French vessel that capsized off the coast of St Kitts while on an illegal journey to St Thomas.
Fourteen Cameroonians perished when the boat capsized after encountering engine issues around 9:30 PM last week Tuesday.
A French national reported that this boat, fitting the description of La Belle Michelle was stolen. He is assisting police with investigations into the matter.
The survivors, all from West Africa are currently under house arrest in St Kitts and Nevis.
The Antigua and Barbuda government has offered to have them sent back to St. John’s to be processed, along with the over 600 reportedly still on the island.
This comes as both the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) out of Martinique and the St. Kitts-Nevis Coast Guard, announced on Friday that they have suspended all recovery operations.
