MIAMI – The United States Guard earlier this week, repatriated five Cubans to their homeland after stopping their sea voyage.
“A good Samaritan reported to Coast Guard Sector Miami watchstanders that a raft with five people aboard was drifting, Saturday, approximately two miles southeast of Lake Worth Inlet,” the US Coast Guard said.
“A Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet crew embarked the five male Cubans and transferred them to the cutter Raymond Evans crew.”
During the interdiction, the migrants reported that they had been at sea for 16 days, the US Coast Guard said.
Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, the migrants received food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.
“Throughout the interdiction, Coast Guard crewmembers were equipped with personal protective equipment to minimise potential exposure to any possible case of COVID-19. There were no migrants in these cases reported to have any COVID-19 related symptoms.
“Attempting to smuggle yourself into the U.S. via the maritime environment is both extremely dangerous and illegal,” said Lt Cmdr Mario Gil, that Coast Guard’s liaison officer and the US Embassy Havana, Cuba.
“With the consistent danger these ventures present, our crews and partner agencies remain persistently vigilant to protect lives and enforce U.S. federal laws.”
This fiscal year, the US Coast Guard said more than 100 Cuban migrants were interdicted trying to illegally cross into the US through the Florida straits. (CMC)
