The Ministry of National Security is signaling that it will be taking steps to promptly repatriate the latest group of Haitian refugees.

The ministry, in a news release yesterday afternoon, said the Haitians would be sent home "as soon as travel arrangements can be made".

Gilbert Scott, Permanent Secretary in the National Security Ministry, said yesterday's arrival was being treated as an illegal entry.

This, he said, was a criminal matter, and as such, the Haitians would be quickly returned to their homeland.

Mr. Scott said the ministry would also try to ascertain whether any of the Haitians who arrived in Jamaica, yesterday, had been here previously.

Security officials have become increasingly concerned about the guns-for-drugs link between Jamaica and Haiti.