Forensic authorities in the Dominican Republic are working to identify the remains of at least 14 decomposed bodies found on an abandoned vessel 10 nautical miles off the northern coast. The discovery was made on Wednesday, prompting an intensive investigation.
The Dominican Republic Navy reported that the 14 skeletons appeared to belong to individuals from Senegal and Mauritania, based on the documentation found next to the bodies. Authorities are also trying to determine the cause and time of death, as well as examining 12 packages found on the boat for illicit drugs, presumably cocaine or heroin.
In addition to the bodies, the Navy found cell phones and geolocation devices on the vessel, which may provide crucial information about the journey and the circumstances leading to the deaths.
The Atlantic route from West Africa to the European Union is notoriously perilous. Boats that miss their intended destinations can be swept off course by Atlantic trade winds and currents, drifting for months. Migrants often die of dehydration and malnutrition, and some have been known to jump overboard out of desperation.
An Associated Press investigation published last year revealed that in 2021, at least seven boats from northwest Africa had been found in the Caribbean and Brazil, all carrying dead bodies. This highlights the ongoing and tragic risks faced by migrants attempting this dangerous journey.
The bodies found on Tuesday are being analyzed by the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF) in Santiago, the country’s second-largest city, located near the site of the discovery. This was confirmed by Nairobi Viloria, a spokeswoman for the Attorney General’s Office.
Meanwhile, the substance found next to the bodies is being examined in laboratories operated by the country’s anti-drug agency, according to Carlos Devers, a spokesman for the National Directorate of Drug Control.
