Authorities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines launched an investigation after a vessel containing the decomposed remains of 11 people washed ashore on Canouan Island on Monday, May 26. The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force received the initial report at approximately 10:45 a.m. local time regarding a suspicious vessel discovered near Little Bay and Cherry Hill.
Officers from the Canouan police station responded to the scene and found the 45-foot-long, 12-foot-wide boat grounded along the coastline. The vessel measured six feet deep and contained human remains in what police described as an advanced state of decomposition. Some of the remains were not fully intact, according to investigators.
The bodies have been transported to mainland St. Vincent and are being held at the Kingstown mortuary for forensic examination and investigative procedures. Police have not officially identified any of the deceased individuals, though several passports were recovered from the vessel that appear to originate from the Republic of Mali in West Africa.
Police indicated the investigation is being treated with utmost seriousness and sensitivity. “This incident is deeply concerning, and we understand the public’s interest in the matter,” authorities stated in their official response. The department emphasized its commitment to pursuing every lead and ensuring all appropriate protocols are followed.
The discovery occurs amid ongoing security concerns in Mali, which has been under a Level 4 Do Not Travel advisory issued by the U.S. State Department since July 2023. The advisory cites risks of crime, terrorism and kidnapping as primary concerns for the West African nation.
Violent crime, including kidnapping and armed robbery, remains common throughout Mali, particularly during local holidays and seasonal events in the capital city of Bamako and surrounding regions. Terrorist and armed groups continue plotting kidnappings and attacks throughout the country, according to State Department warnings.
The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force confirmed it is collaborating with regional and international partners to verify the vessel’s origins and determine the identities of those aboard. The investigation remains active and ongoing as authorities work to establish the circumstances surrounding the tragic discovery.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines, located in the Eastern Caribbean west of Barbados and south of St. Lucia, has become the site of heightened investigative activity following the vessel’s arrival. The small island nation’s police force has not released additional details about potential causes of death or the duration the boat may have been at sea.
This incident follows a similar discovery reported in January on St. Kitts and Nevis, another Caribbean nation, where 19 bodies were found with some individuals carrying identification documents from Mali. The pattern of such discoveries has raised concerns among regional authorities about potential migration attempts and maritime safety in Caribbean waters.
The ongoing crisis in Mali has contributed to displacement and migration pressures as the landlocked nation faces severe security and humanitarian challenges. Armed conflicts, terrorist activities and economic instability have created conditions that may prompt dangerous sea journeys, though authorities have not confirmed whether this vessel was part of a migration attempt.
Forensic procedures at the Kingstown mortuary will determine official causes of death and may provide additional information about the circumstances leading to the tragedy. The advanced state of decomposition suggests the vessel had been at sea for an extended period before reaching Canouan Island.
Regional law enforcement agencies continue monitoring Caribbean waters for similar incidents while international partners assist in tracing the vessel’s origin and route. The investigation represents a significant undertaking for the small island nation’s police force as they work to provide answers about the 11 individuals who perished during what appears to have been a perilous sea journey.