MIAMI, FLORIDA – An indictment unsealed in the Southern District of Florida today charges a Bahamian national for his alleged involvement in a human smuggling scheme that led to the deaths of multiple migrants. Vandrick Nelson Smith, also known as Muggy and Vans, 33, was arrested in The Bahamas on March 6 after collaboration between U.S. and Bahamian authorities.
The indictment accuses Smith of being part of a human smuggling organization that attempted to transport migrants illegally from The Bahamas to the United States by boat. The victims hailed from various countries, including Colombia, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. The migrants or their associates allegedly paid money to the organization for their illegal passage to the U.S. The indictment claims that Smith played a direct role in three maritime human smuggling incidents, one of which resulted in the tragic deaths of five individuals.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri condemned Smith’s alleged actions, stating that human smugglers exploit vulnerable individuals for profit at great peril. The U.S. Department of Justice is committed to combatting human smuggling activities that endanger migrants across borders, she added.
Smith is implicated in three maritime human smuggling events that occurred on specific dates in 2021, 2022, and 2022. The indictment details an incident on January 22, 2022, when a vessel carrying migrants from The Bahamas capsized, leading to the loss of multiple lives. The U.S. Coast Guard intervened, rescuing the sole survivor clinging to the overturned vessel three days later.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida emphasized the dangers posed by human smuggling networks that exploit migrants’ aspirations for better lives, ultimately jeopardizing their safety. Lapointe reiterated the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute those involved in illicit human smuggling endeavors to ensure the protection of vulnerable migrants.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) continues to collaborate with international partners to bring to justice individuals who prioritize financial gain over human lives and safety. Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of HSI Miami urged the public to avoid undertaking maritime journeys with criminal organizations that often result in tragic consequences.
The indictment charges Smith with multiple counts related to causing the deaths of migrants during a specific incident in January 2022. These charges include attempting to bring noncitizens to the U.S. for profit and conspiring to put migrants’ lives in danger with fatal outcomes. If convicted, Smith faces a potential life sentence for his role in the human smuggling operation.
The case was investigated by HSI Fort Pierce and HSI Assistant Attaché in Nassau, The Bahamas, with support from various agencies. The ongoing investigation falls under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a collaboration between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI, dedicated to addressing human smuggling networks with national security and public safety implications.