CBP aircraft caught "red-handed" a vessel dropping off Cuban aliens
San Juan, PR.– Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG) federal
authorities arrested two subjects of the Dominican Republic Monday after
they were caught dropping off nine Cuban aliens in Mona Island last night.
The U.S. Attorney's Office accepted to prosecute the cases of the two
Dominican men for charges of smuggling aliens and for attempting to
enter at a place other than as designated by immigration officers.
A US Customs and Border Protection DHC-8 marine patrol aircraft from the
Caribbean Air and Marine Branch, located a suspect single engine "yola"
type vessel with no lights and approximately 8 to 10 people onboard,
heading eastbound towards the west coast of Mona Island.
Near midnight, the CBP DHC-8 aircraft maintained aerial view of the
suspect vessel as it approached the west coast of Mona Island and
approximately nine people abandoned the vessel swimming to shore.
Immediately the suspect vessel turned around and departed at a high rate
of speed with two person's onboard heading westbound towards the
Dominican Republic. The CBP DHC-8 aircraft maintained view of the vessel
and assisted the US Coast Guard Cutter Chincoteague in the interdiction
of the suspect vessel Northeast of Mona Island.
The Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources Park Rangers were
notified and responded to the site, proceeding to take into custody 9
Cuban aliens; 7 males and 2 females. Upon landing in Mona Border Patrol
Agents interviewed all 9 Cubans as to their immigration status.
The CBP Blackhawk transported 6 Cuban nationals from Mona Island to
Aguadilla, where they were transported to the Ramey Border Patrol
station for processing.
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Chincoteague towed the migrant vessel
and transported the remaining three migrants and the two suspected
smugglers to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, where they transferred custody of
the migrants and the vessel to awaiting Ramey Sector Border Patrol agents.
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