BREAKING: Several passports from Mali found on boat in Canouan boat with 11 bodies

A map showing the distance between both territories.

By Admin. Updated 2:26 p.m., Tuesday, May 27, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

The Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) stated on Tuesday that several passports recovered among the deceased on a boat discovered in Canouan appear to be from the Republic of Mali.

Canouan is located in the Southern Grenadines, part of the multi-island state of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in the Eastern Caribbean.

The Republic of Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa, situated approximately 3,937 miles from St Vincent and the Grenadines.

There has been global concern regarding migrants fleeing African countries and dying at sea.

In a press statement issued on 27 May, the RSVGPF updated the nation on the ongoing investigation into the discovery of a vessel that washed ashore in the area of Little Bay, Cherry Hill, on the island of Canouan on Monday, 26 May 2025.

“At approximately 10:45 a.m., a report was received regarding a suspicious vessel found along the coastline. Officers from the Canouan Police Station responded and, upon inspection, the remains of eleven persons were discovered on board. The vessel, measuring 45 feet in length, 12 feet in width, and 6 feet in depth, was found grounded in the area,” police said.

“The remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, and some were not fully intact. Several passports were recovered at the scene, which appear to be from the Republic of Mali, a country located in West Africa. At this stage, no official identification of the deceased has been confirmed, and the investigation remains ongoing,” police added.

A photograph of the vessel. Photo by Hansel Henry.

The RSVGPF said it continues to work closely with regional and international partners to verify the origins of the vessel and the identities of the individuals onboard.

The remains have since been transported to mainland St. Vincent, where they are being kept at the Kingstown mortuary pending further forensic and investigative procedures.

“This incident is deeply concerning, and we understand the public’s interest in the matter. We assure you that the RSVGPF is treating this investigation with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity. We are committed to pursuing every lead and ensuring that all appropriate protocols are followed,” the press release stated.

“We ask for your patience and cooperation as this complex investigation unfolds. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is encouraged to contact the Criminal Investigations Department/Major Crimes Unit at 1-784-456-1810, Police Control at 1-784-457-1211, Police Emergency at 999/911, or the nearest police station,” police said.

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