Agent 'smuggled baseball players'

Agent 'smuggled baseball players'
Prosecutors in Miami have charged a sports agent with smuggling Cuban
baseball players into the US.

Gustavo "Gus" Dominguez and four alleged accomplices are accused of
using a speedboat to bring 19 men to Florida from Cuba in 2004.

Prosecutors say the players were then sent on to California in the hope
they would be signed by Major League teams.

Mr Dominguez pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. If convicted,
the men face up to 10 years in prison.

People-smuggling operations from Cuba to the US are common, and taking
Cuban migrants on the 145km (90 miles) trip across the Florida Straits
can be highly lucrative.

But it is the first time a sports agent has been charged with smuggling,
according to the Miami Herald newspaper.

Baseball is Cuba's national sport and the country is believed to have
many gifted young players seeking to play in the US.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6104826.stm

Published: 2006/11/01 05:46:59 GMT