U.S. Coast Guard Repatriates 63 Cuban Migrants
DATE: January 07, 2009 14:19:46 EST
U.S. Coast Guard News Release
Date:Jan. 7, 2009
Contact:
Petty Officer Barry Bena
(305) 415-6683
Coast Guard repatriates 63 Cuban migrants
MIAMI -- The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur repatriated 63 Cuban migrants, from four seperate interdictions at sea within the past six days, to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, Wednesday.
In one incident, a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules from Air Station Clearwater, Fla., located an overloaded ;;30-foot go-fast vessel 30 miles southeast of Anguilla Cay, Bahamas, Sunday. The Coast Guard Cutter Key Biscayne was diverted from its patrol and interdicted the go-fast vessel approximately 50 miles southwest of Williams Island, Bahamas. Aboard the vessel were 32 Cuban migrants and two suspected smugglers. ;;The Cuban migrants were safely transferred to the cutter and the two suspected smugglers were turned over to Border Patrol officials in Key West.
Additionally, Coast Guard personnel at Sector Key West were notified by the captain of the cruise ship, Norwegian Pearl, that they had picked up five Cuban migrants from a rustic vessel about 50 miles southeast of Key West, Friday. The Coast Guard Cutter Ocracoke was diverted to the scene and safely transferred the migrants aboard the cutter
Once aboard Coast Guard cutters, all migrants are provided with food, water, shelter and necessary medical attention.
The Chandeleur is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in Miami.
The Key Biscayne is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in Key West.
The Ocracoke is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in St. Petersburg, Fla.
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