An investigation is underway into a 'ghost ship' found off the coast of the Turks and Caicos with the bodies of 20 people on board.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force reported the boat was discovered adrift by fishermen on June 24th, with all souls aboard deceased, including two children. The boat was found about a mile offshore of Grand Turk, the largest island in the Turks and Caicos archipelago.
“Work is now underway to establish their identity, the cause of death and the circumstances that led them to be found in the Turks and Caicos Islands waters,” police said June 25.
Although there is not yet an explanation for the deaths, authorities said there is no indication of foul play.
Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting said that authorities believe the boat did not originate from the Turks and Caicos Islands and that the islands were not its intended destination.
According to the Associated Press, Haitians often flee to the Turks and Caicos and the islands have been used as transshipment point by human traffickers. For example, Srikajamukam Chelliah of Sri Lanka pleaded guilty to human trafficking charges before a Turks and Caicos judge last June and was sentenced to 14 months in prison.
Related
This January, The U.S. Coast Guard suspended a search for an overdue boat that was headed to Florida from the Bahamas with 20 people aboard after the authorities said they had exhausted their efforts to find it, according to the New York Times. That boat was a blue and white Mako Cuddy Cabin headed to Lake Worth Beach, Fla., read the report.