MIAMI — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Pea Island repatriated four Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, Wednesday.
While on patrol, crewmembers of the Coast Guard Cutter Key Biscayne located a 19-foot go-fast vessel, about 70 miles south of Key West, Fla., Sunday.
A station 33-foot Special Purpose Craft – Law Enforcement boat, from Coast Guard Station Key West, launched to assist the Key Biscayne with the pursuit, interdicting the go-fast vessel with four Cuban migrants and one suspected smuggler aboard.
Following safe transfer of the five passengers to Coast Guard assets, the vessel sank due to taking on water and poor hull conditions.
The suspected smuggler was later transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Key West.
Once aboard Coast Guard cutters, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and necessary medical treatment.
The cutters Key Biscayne and Pea Island are a 110-foot patrol boats homeported in Key West, Fla.
