28 now confirmed dead in Venezuela drowning

Home*Cover Story*News

28 now confirmed dead in Venezuela drowning

At least 28 Venezuelan migrants died when a boat heading for Trinidad and Tobago sank.

That’s the latest from Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab.

During a press conference in Caracas on Thursday, Saab said “The number has reached 28 right now, of which 26 have been identified.”

The boat left Guiria in the northeastern state of Sucre on December 6 but never reached its destination.
The first bodies started appearing last Friday while coastguards performed routine patrols.

Over the weekend, 14 bodies were recovered either at sea or washed up on beaches.
It is believed there were around 30 people aboard the boat.

Saab said each migrant had paid $150 to what he described as a human-trafficking ring for their passage.

He has ordered the arrest of 10 people. The boat owner and the owner of the farm from which the boat left have been arrested and charged with people-trafficking.

The government has also ordered the arrest of seven members of the National Guard for extortion linked to the tragedy.

COMMENTS

WORDPRESS: 0
DISQUS: 0