Cuban Migrants Repatriated After CBP Air and Marine Has a Busy Week of Interdiction in South Florida

The Coast Guard Cutter Key Biscayne repatriated more than 70 Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba who were interdicted Saturday in two separate events as a result of CBP Air and Marine efforts.

A Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine DASH-8 aircrew located two go-fast vessels traveling in tandem about 40 miles southeast of Miami Wednesday morning. CBP Air and Marine agents patrolling the area intercepted both vessels using disabling fire after the boats refused to stop. The interception came about 12 miles east of Miami. The 58 migrants were transferred to the Coast Guard Cutter Pea Island and four suspected smugglers were transferred to CBP – Border Patrol agents in Miami for processing.

On Tuesday a CBP Air and Marine DASH-8 located an unlit go-fast vessel about 80 miles southwest of Key West, Fla., and provided information to the Coast Guard, which sent the Cutter Key Biscayne and their small boat crew interdicted the vessel with six migrants and two suspected smugglers aboard. This occurred 42 miles south of Key West. The two suspects were transferred to CBP Border Patrol agents in Key West for processing.

The Coast Guard Cutter Kodiak Island also interdicted 18 Cuban migrants from a rustic vessel about 45 miles northwest of Havana, Cuba, Wednesday.

source DHS