Two Haitian nationals are in custody after they were picked up hours after arriving by boat in the central parish of St. Catherine on Thursday.
According to Senior Superintendent Leighton Grey, of the St Catherine police, the men were found hiding in bushes and the authorities have been contacted as investigations continue into reports that the men were part of a larger group of Haitians, including women and children, that was spotted in a boat.
The Haitian men told the police that Jamaica was not their destination.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the small vessel had left Haiti, destined to the United States of America, but as they go along, they develop difficulties along the way. The fact that the police was quick on the scene as they approached, it was only two males that disembarked the vessel, as they had left to seek food for the other persons,” Grey noted.
It is unclear whether the other Haitian nationals disembarked the vessel.
Grey said neither the Haitians nor the boat was seen during a further search of along the coastline.