MIAMI – The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Key Biscayne repatriated 47 Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cubanas, Cuba at 11:30 a.m. today.
A Coast Guard “Falcon” jet crew from Air Station Miami located two go-fast vessels January 18 in the vicinty of Cay Sal Banks, Bahamas. The Coast Guard Cutter Tempest, along with a Bahamian official on board the vessel, were diverted to intercept the two vessels. When the Tempest arrived on scene the second vessel, believed to be assisting the disabled vessel, fled the scene with no migrants on board. The Tempest crew found 32 migrants on the disable go-fast. The crew transferred 32 migrants and two suspected smugglers.
The 32 migrants were later transferred to the Coast Guard Cutter Diligence and the two suspected smugglers were transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at Coast Guard Station Marathon, Fla., for possible prosecution.
The crew of the cruise ship Coral Princess rescued 16 migrants who were on a rustic vessel January 17. The crew of the cutter Tempest was diverted and transferred all the migrants to the cutter. At the request of U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service, one of the 16 migrants were taken to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for further disposition.
Once on board Coast Guard cutters, all migrants receive food, water and any necessary medical treatment.
The Cutter Key Biscayne is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The Cutter Tempest is a 179-foot patrol boat homeported in Pascagoula, Miss.
The Cutter Diligence is a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Wilmington, N.C.
Source: USCG D7 Public Affairs
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