Bahamian charged for role in a human smuggling conspiracy

A Bahamian national has been charged for his alleged role in a human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in multiple migrant deaths.

According to an indictment unsealed in the Southern District of Florida  Vandrick Nelson Smith, also known as Muggy and Vans, 33, was arrested on March 6 in The Bahamas pursuant to a request by the United States involving charges filed under seal in the Southern District of Florida in November 2023.

According to the court documents, Smith was allegedly involved in a human smuggling organisation that attempted to bring migrants illegally from The Bahamas to the United States by boat.

The migrants were nationals of Colombia, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, among other countries. The migrants or their families and friends allegedly paid the organisation money to be smuggled to the United States.

The indictment alleges that Smith was personally involved in three maritime human smuggling incidents,including one that resulted in five deaths.

“Vandrick Smith has been charged with organising dangerous human smuggling operations, sending migrants from The Bahamas to Florida by boat,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

“As alleged in the indictment, the human smuggling organisation’s efforts turned deadly, when a boat carrying migrants capsized in January 2022. Human smugglers exploit desperate people for money, and the consequences can be tragic. The Criminal Division is committed to combating human smuggling organisations that prey on and endanger vulnerable migrants, wherever they operate.”

Smith allegedly was involved in three maritime human smuggling events that occurred on or about March 6, 2021; January 22, 2022; and August 8, 2022.

The indictment alleges that on the evening of January 22, 2022, the indictment alleges that numerous migrants boarded a vessel in The Bahamas destined for Florida. Shortly after the vessel’s departure, the engines allegedly stopped functioning and the vessel capsized.

On January 25, 2022, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued the sole surviving migrant, who was found clinging to the top of the overturned vessel.

“Human smuggling ventures put people’s lives at risk for the sake of profit,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida.

“Human smugglers prey on the migrants’ hopes for a better life. Tragically, the smugglers’ exploits pose a grave danger to migrants. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our partners to prosecute those who carry out illicit human smuggling operations to protect vulnerable migrants and save lives.”

Special Agent Anthony Salisbury in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami, said HSI “remains dedicated to working with our domestic and international partners to bring to justice reckless criminals who prioritise financial gain over people’s lives and safety.

“The risks associated with maritime human smuggling ventures are extreme. We urge the public to avoid embarking on these journeys with dangerous criminal organisations, which often result in tragedy.”

Smith is charged with five counts of attempting to bring non-citizens to the United States resulting in death stemming from the January 2022 venture.

He is also charged with conspiring to bring non-citizens to the United States for profit, placing in jeopardy the life of non-citizens and resulting in death; attempting to bring non-citizens to the United States for profit; and attempting to aid and assist certain noncitizens to enter the United States.

If convicted of attempting to bring non-citizens to the United States resulting in death, Smith faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

The investigation is being conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) programme, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI.

The ECT programme focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

-CMC NEWS-

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