Police yesterday released the identities of seven of the eight people whose bodies were found almost two weeks along the shoreline of Holmes Rock, Grand Bahama.

According to authorities, the victims include five Haitian nationals – Ones Cius, 37; Jackson Pierre-Louis, 40; Germanise Colas, 37; Nehemie Chery, 24; Bensely Moneus, 5; and two Cubans – Yanesy Payas Torres, 32 and Norbelis Bustamante Perez, 33.

The victims are believed to have been part of a human smuggling attempt.

In the wake of the tragedy, police and government officials renewed the appeal for this practice to stop.

“We want to seek to discourage persons in the community who would try to take on these very risky and hazardous voyages. It is criminal offense punishable by law,” Assistant Commissioner of Police, Hulan Hanna said at the time
“This is a very sad and tragic ending to these persons’ lives.”

Human smuggling is big business. It is estimated to generate profits in the “billions of dollars.”