POLICE believe they may have arrested the captain of the 'Glory Time' - the boat which capsized on route to Florida on a “smuggling expedition”.

He is thought to be one of five survivors who swam ashore after the boat broke up in Hawksbill Cay as it headed to the US.

The four other survivors were today said to be in “safe keeping” and were helping the police.

Police said it appeared as if those who drowned had no documentation and may have been illegal migrants.

They are not sure if the 12 people who are still unaccounted for swam ashore and are hiding in bushes or are still missing at sea. Several young children are among the missing.

Today Haitians in Abaco were helping to identify bodies pulled from the water. An estimated 28 Haitians were on the 25-30 foot boat when they set off on Sunday. So far, 11 bodies have been recovered.

Bahamas police Assistant Superintendent Loretta Mackey said the US Coast Guard was helping Bahamian authorities in the search.

Mackey said members of the local Haitian community in Abaco were helping to identify the bodies of people retrieved from the water.

The boat apparently had engine trouble, took on water and then capsized.

It was shortly after 12.10pm on Monday when officers from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the US Coast Guard, BASRA and other concerned citizens responded to a call received by officers at the Marsh Harbor police station that a vessel with a number of passengers onboard had capsized in waters off North Abaco in the area of Hawksbill Cay.