MIAMI, FLORIDA – A Bahamian national, Vandrick Nelson Smith, has been charged in connection with a human smuggling conspiracy resulting in multiple migrant deaths, according to an unsealed indictment in the Southern District of Florida.
Smith, known as Muggy and Vans, was arrested in The Bahamas on March 6 following collaborative efforts between U.S. and Bahamian authorities. The charges against him were filed under seal in November 2023. Court documents reveal Smith’s alleged involvement in a human smuggling organization that sought to transport migrants from The Bahamas to the United States by boat. The migrants, hailing from countries such as Colombia, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, reportedly paid the organization for passage to the U.S. The indictment states that Smith played a role in three maritime human smuggling incidents, one of which resulted in five deaths.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division condemned Smith’s actions, emphasizing the fatal consequences of human smuggling operations. Smith’s alleged involvement in multiple incidents, including one where a vessel capsized resulting in the loss of lives, underscores the dangers posed by such activities.
The indictment outlines three specific maritime human smuggling events involving Smith that occurred over a period of time. One incident on Jan. 22, 2022, saw a vessel bound for Florida from The Bahamas experiencing engine failure and capsizing shortly after departure. The U.S. Coast Guard later rescued the lone surviving migrant from the overturned vessel, highlighting the risks faced by individuals caught up in human smuggling ventures.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida condemned human smugglers who exploit migrants’ aspirations for a better life, emphasizing the grave dangers faced by those embarking on such perilous journeys. Lapointe affirmed his office’s commitment to collaboratively combatting illicit human smuggling operations to protect vulnerable migrants and prevent further loss of life.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) reiterated its dedication to working with national and international partners to apprehend individuals like Smith who prioritize profit over human safety. Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of HSI Miami warned against engaging with criminal organizations involved in maritime human smuggling, citing the extreme risks associated with such ventures that often end tragically.
Smith faces charges related to attempting to bring noncitizens to the U.S. resulting in death, conspiracy to profit from human smuggling, and aiding and assisting noncitizens in entering the United States. If convicted of the most serious charge, Smith could potentially face life imprisonment.
The investigation, conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, involved coordinated efforts from various law enforcement agencies both domestically and abroad. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs played a crucial role in ensuring foreign legal assistance requests were fulfilled and in securing Smith’s arrest. Prosecutors from the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are overseeing the case, reflecting the gravity of the charges brought against Smith.
An important distinction to note is that an indictment is an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.