Attempting to Reach U.S.
Published at 1:21 am, May 5, 2011
U.S. Customs and Border Protection marine interdiction agents thwarted
an attempt by four Cuban citizens to reach the U.S. on a crude raft
Thursday morning.
While conducting marine operations in the waters south of Key West,
agents aboard a CBP vessel received radio messages from the operator of
another vessel in the area reporting a sighting of a slow-moving raft.
When the agents responded to the area they intercepted a raft made of
wooden planks buoyed by automobile inner tubes and powered by a simple
sail. Four people – two adult males, one adult female and a child – were
aboard the raft. The agents pulled the CBP vessel alongside the raft and
brought the four subjects aboard.
Initial interviews with subjects indicated they were residents of Cuba
who were attempting to reach the U.S. All of the subjects appeared to be
in good condition and did not require or ask for medical assistance.
The subjects were turned over to a U.S. Coast Guard cutter for further
processing and possible repatriation.
"Moving through these waters in a well-built and well-equipped vessel
can be difficult and dangerous so there are tremendous risks involved in
attempting to traverse the open sea in this type of craft," said Noel
Mannheimer, director of marine operations for CBP's Air and Marine
Branch. "These people were very lucky that something did not happen to
them before our vessel intercepted them. This is yet another case that
shows why no one should ever attempt to illegally enter the United States."
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