A Bahamian and a Haitian national are facing federal charges in Florida after being caught allegedly smuggling 20 undocumented migrants into the United States. The arrests followed a dramatic interdiction at sea by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents.
Demetrius Luciano Kemp, 27, of the Bahamas, and Mikewendzly Nestar Norelus, 22, of Haiti, were apprehended on February 9th after CBP agents intercepted a 25-foot go-fast boat heading towards South Florida. The boat, carrying 12 Chinese nationals, seven Haitian nationals, and one Jamaican national, was spotted traveling in the dark with its lights off.
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Despite repeated commands to stop, including warning shots, the boat continued towards U.S. waters. CBP agents were forced to disable the vessel to bring it to a halt.
Further investigation revealed that Kemp had been previously deported from the United States in July 2024.
Kemp and Norelus are facing charges of failure to heave to and unlawfully encouraging or inducing aliens to enter the United States. Kemp is also charged with re-entry of a removed alien.
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Both defendants are being held in federal custody pending trial. The 20 migrants found on the boat were returned to the Bahamas.
The case is being investigated by HSI Miami, with assistance from CBP and the U.S. Coast Guard. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl is prosecuting the case.
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