Brazilian Coyote Charges US$ 12,000 to Transport Immigrants from the Bahamas to the US

01/09/2017 - 14h33

Before a pier overrun with tourists who arrived on huge ocean liners, an old sedan with tinted windows and carrying three men stop in the middle of the road.

One of them opens the window and motions for the reporter to enter and, in the blink an eye, the sunny vacation spot gives way to a claustrophobic gangster scene from a movie.

In the backseat you have Alexandre Soares de Oliveira, one of at least four Brazilian coyotes who have agreements with Bahamian and North American criminal organizations to transport immigrants to Florida.

The route, less used than the Mexican border, made the news at the end of 2016, with the disappearance of at least 12 Brazilians who attempted to make the journey.

Alexandre says a boat with six Brazilians would take off the next morning, Friday (6). "There is one waiting two months to cross."

Since I was already in the Bahamas, the trip would cost US $12,000.

The instructions for the trip are concise: you may only bring one small suitcase.

Alex asks me about my cellphone model. I show him the iPhone 6S. "You cannot bring that one, it has GPS, it's traceable. But I will trade you for a new LG I bought in Panamá for my wife."

Affiliated with the PMDB (Brazilian Democratic Movement Party), he is 49 years old and ran for City Council in his city, Marataízes (Espirito Santo), as Professor Alexandre. In the TSE, he is registered as a high school teacher. He said he only spent approximately US$ 500 out of pocket.

The campaign was not successful: he only received seven votes.

Translated by SUGHEY RAMIREZ

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