MIAMI – The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Pea Island repatriated 30 Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cubanãs Cuba, and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Venturous repatriated 34 Haitian migrants to Port au Prince, Haiti, Saturday subsequent to three separate at-sea interdictions.
A Good Samaritan vessel contacted search and rescue coordinators at Coast Guard Sector Key West, Fla., , reporting a rustic vessel with at least eight people aboard near Big Pine Key, Fla., Wednesday. An Air Station Miami HU-25 Falcon jet confirmed the report and Coast Guard Station Marathon, Fla., boatcrews interdicted the rustic vessel with 12 Cuban males aboard about 13 miles south of Big Pine Key.
Another Good Samaritan vessel transiting the Florida Straits contacted search and rescue coordinators at Sector Miami Sunday reporting they had located a disabled vessel. The Good Samaritan vessel also reported that the people aboard the disabled vessel stated they had not had anything to eat or drink in five days. Coast Guard Station Fort Pierce, Fla. boatcrews met the disabled vessel 40 miles east of Fort Pierce, finding 34 Haitian migrants and two suspected migrant-smugglers aboard the 21-foot boat. The 34 migrants were transferred to the Cutter Venturous and the two suspected smugglers were taken to Customs and Border Protection officials in Miami.
A C-130 Hercules aircraft crew from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., located a rustic vessel while conducting a law enforcement patrol Dec., 21. Using this information the crew of the Cutter Tornado was able to intercept the rustic carrying 20 Cuban migrants, 40 miles north of Havana, Cuba. Two of the 20 migrants were later transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Migrants interdicted at sea receive food, water and any necessary medical attention while aboard Coast Guard cutters.
The Cutter Pea Island is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The Cutter Tornado is a 179-foot patrol boat homeported in Pascagoula, Miss.
The Cutter Venturous is a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in St. Petersburg.
