The police in Portland are appealing to the public to be on the lookout for a group of fishermen who reportedly went to Haiti on Sunday and are planning to transport people from that country back to Jamaica.

Police sources said that they have received intelligence that some local fishermen are involved in the trafficking of Haitians to the island ahead of Tropical Storm Tomas, which is expected to pound sections of Haiti.

The lawmen are maintaining that the matter is no longer just a police or a security issue but is now also a health issue, as there is an outbreak of cholera in Haiti.

According to the police, even the very fishermen who are involved in the illegal activity of transporting Haitians to the island in their vessels are at risk of contracting cholera, which has reportedly killed approximately 300 persons in Haiti.

Police have since beefed up security along the coastline in the parish, including Manchioneal, Boston, Long Bay, Bryan's Bay, Hope Bay and St Margaret's Bay, in an attempt to apprehend those taking part in the illegal activity.

Previously, the police were heavily focusing on fishermen who are believed to be involved in the infamous drugs-for-guns trade between Jamaica and Haiti.