*The remains were found alongside “several” passports that appear to be from the Republic of Mali, police said.*
* A vessel containing the remains of 11 people was found on an island that is part of the Caribbean country St. Vincent and the Grenadines on May 26
* The remains were said to be “in an advanced state of decomposition” and were found alongside “several” passports that appear to be from the Republic of Mali, police said
* The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force continues to investigate the incident
Police are investigating after a vessel washed up onto an island in the Caribbean containing 11 bodies.
On Monday, May 26, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force issued a statement revealing that the boat was found in “the vicinity of Little Bay, Cherry Hill, on the island of Canouan.”
“During the initial examination of the vessel, what appear to be decomposed human remains were found onboard,” the police force wrote in their statement. “The identities and circumstances surrounding the discovery are yet to be determined.”
Additional details were shared in an updated statement released on Tuesday, May 27.
In it, the police force revealed that they received a report about “a suspicious vessel found along the coastline” around 10:45 a.m. The Canouan Police Station responded to the scene and began an investigation into the discovery.
Police say that the boat was 45 ft. long and roughly 12 ft. wide.
The 11 bodies on the boat were “in an advanced state of decomposition,” with police noting that “some were not fully intact.” They have not yet been identified but have been “transported to mainland St. Vincent.”
They will remain at the Kingstown mortuary as the investigation continues.
Several passports that appear to be from the Republic of Mali were also found on the vessel, police said. The Republic of Mali is a West African country that received the highest level of travel advisory warning from the United States Department of State in July 2023. The government agency cited risk of “crime, terrorism, and kidnapping” for those who visit
“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 police statement read.
The police force vowed that they were collaborating with “regional and international partners” to “verify the origins of the vessel and the identities of the individuals onboard.”
PEOPLE has reached out to the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force for additional comment.
According to reporting by ABC News, a similar discovery was made on St. Kitts and Nevis — another country in the Caribbean — in January. In that incident, 19 bodies were discovered, “some with identifications from Mali.”