Miami, Florida – A Bahamian national, Vandrick Nelson Smith, also known as Muggy and Vans, has been arrested in connection with a human smuggling conspiracy that led to multiple deaths. The indictment against Smith was unsealed in the Southern District of Florida, revealing his alleged involvement in organizing dangerous human smuggling operations by boat from The Bahamas to the United States.
Smith, 33, was apprehended in The Bahamas on March 6 after extensive cooperation between U.S. and Bahamian authorities. Court documents indicate that Smith was part of a human smuggling organization that aimed to transport migrants from The Bahamas to the United States illegally. The migrants, hailing from countries like Colombia, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, allegedly paid the organization to facilitate their entry into the U.S.
The indictment details three maritime human smuggling incidents in which Smith purportedly played a role, including one event that tragically resulted in five deaths. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Nicole M. Argentieri, emphasized the dangers posed by human smuggling operations, noting that Smith’s actions led to deadly consequences for vulnerable migrants seeking a better life.
Authorities allege that Smith was involved in smuggling attempts on March 6, 2021, January 22, 2022, and August 8, 2022. The January 2022 incident saw a vessel carrying migrants capsizing shortly after departure, resulting in multiple deaths. The surviving migrant was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard a few days later.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida condemned human smugglers for exploiting migrants’ hopes for a better future while endangering their lives. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) emphasized the grave risks associated with maritime human smuggling ventures and urged the public to avoid embarking on such dangerous journeys.
Smith faces charges related to attempting to bring noncitizens to the United States resulting in death, along with conspiracy and aiding noncitizens’ entry into the country for profit. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of life in prison. The investigation involved multiple agencies, including HSI Fort Pierce, HSI Miami, the U.S. Coast Guard, and local law enforcement in Florida and The Bahamas.
The case is being prosecuted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a collaborative effort between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The program focuses on dismantling human smuggling networks that pose significant threats to national security, public safety, or humanitarian concerns. Trial Attorney Marie Zisa and Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover are leading the prosecution efforts in the case.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The Justice Department extends its gratitude to the Royal Bahamas Police Force and other Bahamian authorities for their cooperation in the investigation.