Immigration alerts residents and neighbouring countries that five Haitian detainees are on the run
The search continues locally for five Haitians who escaped from the Immigration Department Detention Centre last Friday, May 27, even as officials in Dominica and neighbouring islands are being urged to be on the lookout for them.
REAL News correspondent George Wehner broke the story that morning on Progressive FM; however, his report said that eight Haitians had absconded from the Centre.
Wehner’s alert prompted the Immigration Department to issue a Wanted Bulletin for the quintet.
Still at large are Frannyel Manuel, 28; 21-year-old Sami Roodly Loisueu; 25-year-old Andrecin Pruneau; 28-year-old Angener Rinjour; and a lone female, 19-year-old Fabine Fleurant.
Reports claim the five were attempting to travel on to Montserrat after arriving at the V.C. Bird International Airport, from Santo Domingo, on Thursday night, May 26.
However, their passports were carefully examined and it was discovered that they had presented fraudulent travel documents.
The five Haitians were intercepted and detained, questioned, and taken to the Detention Centre for not having the proper documentation to enter Antigua and Barbuda.
They were to be deported on Saturday, May 28, following the customary procedures of rebooking flights to their country of origin.
While the detainees’ method of escape has not been shared, the Immigration Department, other law-enforcement agencies, and their inter-Caribbean counterparts are carrying out investigations to bring closure to this matter.
They are seeking the public’s assistance in locating the five Haitians, and locals are being warned against assisting or harbouring the escapees.
Immigration officials are advising that only one of them – Rinjour – speaks basic English, and they say they have reasons to believe the fugitives are still on the island.
Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact the Immigration Enforcement Unit at 464-3245, 464-3141, 774-8289, or the nearest police station.
