The U.S. Coast Guard in Florida encountered a delicate and potentially dangerous situation while intercepting a very overloaded sailboat in Bahamian waters carrying 145 illegal Haitians, according to a report.

The Coast Guard crew said that as the sailboat approached, some of the adults on board threatened to harm children on the boat if the Coast Guard approached, refusing to be transhipped and wanting absolutely continue their journey to the United States.

Coast Guard officials said the crew followed the sailboat for several hours using various techniques to ensure everyone's safety while trying to bring the naysayers to their senses....

The Haitians on board finally gave their consent and the Coast Guard crew was able to defuse the situation and proceed with the transhipment of the migrants in complete safety.

Subsequently, the 145 Haitians (men, women and children) safe and sound, were transferred to the "Royal Bahamas Defense Force".

S/ iciHaiti