The Colombian Navy supported the Government of the Archipelago, Migration Colombia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to transport in a ship of the Naval Institution 33 Jamaicans and four Dominicans, to Jamaica. These people, who were in San Andrés island since last October 20, after being surprised by Colombian sailors carrying out illegal fishing activities in Colombian waters, were received by a Jamaican Coast Guard ship in the Caribbean Sea.
After the coordination conducted by the foreign ministries of Colombia and Jamaica and in order to support the supplementary measure filed by Migración Colombia, the return operation led by the Missile Frigate ARC Almirante Padilla was initiated, in which the 37 fishermen were transported to a meeting point on the Caribbean Sea agreed with the Jamaican Coast Guard, where these people were handed over to the immigration authorities of the Antillean country.
The 37 fishermen were in the country following the corresponding administrative sanctioning processes at Migración Colombia, and were part of the crew of the Jamaican-flagged fishing ship Hope On where the Naval Institution seized, in Bajo Nuevo waters, more than six tons of parrotfish, a specimen protected in Colombia, thus the people were found guilty of crimes of violation of borders for the exploitation or use of natural resources.
The Colombian Navy, through the Specific Command of San Andrés and Providencia, will continue to work for the maritime and land territories under its responsibility.
Source: Press - Navy of Colombia
