Vandrick Nelson Smith, 33, of the Bahamas has been arrested. He is accused of being involved in a human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in deaths of numerous migrants from different countries including Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica.
Also known as Muggy and Vans, Smith is allegedly a member of a human smuggling organization that tried to bring migrants illegally from the Bahamas to the United States by boat. He was allegedly involved in maritime human smuggling events that occurred on March 6, 2021, on January 22, 2022 and on August 8, 2022.
On the evening of January 22, 2022, numerous migrants boarded a vessel in the Bahamas destined for Florida, USA. The vessel capsized shortly after its departure.
Only one migrant survived. On January 25, 2022, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued the migrant who was clinging to the top of the overturned vessel.
On March 6, 2024, Smith was arrested at a bar in Fox Hill, New Providence, Bahamas pursuant to a request by the U.S. He appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney and the matter was adjourned to April 17, 2024.
Bail was denied for Smith. He was charged with conspiring to bring noncitizens to the U.S. for profit, attempting to bring noncitizens to the U.S. for profit, attempting to aid and assist certain noncitizens to enter the U.S. and placing in jeopardy the life of noncitizens and resulting in death,
CONAN Daily 