Miami, Florida – A Bahamian national, Vandrick Nelson Smith, also known as Muggy and Vans, has been indicted for his alleged involvement in a human smuggling scheme that led to the deaths of multiple migrants. Smith was apprehended in The Bahamas after collaborative efforts between U.S. and Bahamian authorities following charges filed in the Southern District of Florida in November 2023.
Court records reveal Smith’s purported role in an illicit organization facilitating the illegal transportation of migrants from The Bahamas to the United States via boat. Among the migrants involved were individuals from Colombia, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. Allegedly, these migrants paid the organization for their transport to the U.S. With the indictment indicating Smith’s direct involvement in three maritime smuggling incidents, one of which tragically resulted in five fatalities.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division expressed, “Vandrick Smith stands accused of orchestrating perilous human smuggling operations, jeopardizing the lives of migrants traveling from The Bahamas to Florida by sea.” The dangers inherent in such ventures became starkly apparent when a vessel carrying migrants capsized in January 2022, leading to tragic consequences. Argentieri underscored the department’s commitment to combating exploitation by human smuggling organizations and ensuring the safety of vulnerable migrants.
Smith’s charges stem from his alleged participation in three separate maritime smuggling events over the course of 2021 and 2022. Notably, the indictment highlights a specific incident on January 22, 2022, where a vessel en route from The Bahamas to Florida encountered engine failure and subsequently capsized. The U.S. Coast Guard managed to rescue one survivor clinging to the overturned vessel three days later.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida condemned the actions of human smugglers, emphasizing how they exploit the aspirations of migrants for personal gain, ultimately endangering countless lives. Lapointe pledged to collaborate with partners to prosecute those involved in illicit smuggling operations to safeguard migrants and prevent further tragedies.
Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the extreme risks associated with maritime smuggling activities. Salisbury urged the public to refrain from embarking on perilous journeys facilitated by criminal organizations that often end in disaster.
Charged with five counts related to the January 2022 incident resulting in migrant deaths, Smith faces severe penalties if convicted, including a potential life sentence. The investigation, conducted in partnership with various agencies and departments both domestically and abroad, underscores the collaborative efforts to address transnational criminal activities and safeguard vulnerable populations. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover for the Southern District of Florida.