The 14 Haitian passengers of sailboat “Solitude” surrounded by police and immigration officials.
PHILIPSBURG--Three crew members on board a sailing vessel were detained by the St. Maarten Police Force KPSM on Thursday afternoon on suspicion of human trafficking.
Solitude, a white and blue sailboat flying a tattered Dominica flag, docked at the pier in the vicinity of Walter Plantz Square in Philipsburg around 2:45pm Thursday. A person in the area notified authorities because they thought this occurrence to be strange, as boats rarely dock there. Police and the Immigration Department were then dispatched to the scene.
After conducting a control, authorities discovered 17 persons on board the vessel – a crew of three Dominica nationals and 14 Haitians thought to be illegal migrants. The crew could not give a good reason for docking in St. Maarten without first clearing customs and immigration, according to a press release.
The sailboat originated out of Dominica, having departed a few days ago. It is unknown whether St. Maarten was its intended destination or the vessel was instead compelled to dock here due to other circumstances. However, authorities say the crew members are suspected of human trafficking and were later arrested.
No drugs were found on board the sailboat, police said.
Both crew and passengers were taken to the Philipsburg police station for questioning. The Daily Herald understands that the 14 passengers are not suspected of criminal offences and are being detained for processing by immigration. The sailboat has also been confiscated, pending further investigation.
Police’s Human Smuggling Team together with the Immigration Department are busy with the investigation, said police on Thursday night.
