Police sweep leads to discovery of more Haitians

The number of Haitians detained in Portland has climbed to 27 after police reportedly picked up another group of migrants hours after an earlier boat landing along the parish's coastline.

The latest group, comprising 11 Haitian men, was found on the property of the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) in Passley Gardens on Monday afternoon.

Police believe the men were part of a larger group that arrived by boat shortly after midnight off the coast of Snow Hill and Passley Gardens in eastern Portland.

Earlier in the day, lawmen detained 16 Haitians, including 10 adult men, four adult women and two children, after residents reported seeing unfamiliar individuals in the area. They were taken to the Port Antonio Police Station, where they underwent screening and medical examinations.

The discovery of the additional 11 migrants has pushed the total number of Haitians detained since Monday morning to 27.

According to a police source, one of the migrants told investigators that the group left Haiti in search of a better life, citing hardship, political unrest, gang violence, persecution and hunger in their homeland.

Authorities are continuing their investigations as they work to determine whether any other members of the group remain unaccounted for and how the vessel managed to reach the island undetected.

The Haitians remain in the custody of the authorities as the necessary immigration and security checks continue.

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