The United States Coast Guard says its Cutter Raymond Evans’ crew repatriated 35 Cubans to Cuba on Saturday, following five interdictions off the coast of Key West, Florida.
While on a routine patrol, the agency said its Air Station Miami HC-144 airplane crew notified Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders at 5:10 p.m., last Sunday, of a rustic vessel with five people aboard about 63 miles south of Key West, Florida.
According to the Coast Guard, they were brought aboard the Cutter Raymond Evans and reported in good health
The Coast Guard also said that on Wednesday, while on a routine patrol, a Coast Guard Air Clearwater HC-130 airplane crew notified Sector Key West watchstanders of a rustic vessel with 13 people aboard about 61 miles south of Key West.
They were also brought aboard the Cutter Raymond Evans and reported in good health.
The US Coast Guard said a Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations airplane crew notified Sector Key West watchstanders, also on Wednesday, of a 20-foot fishing vessel with five people aboard about 25 miles south of Marathon, Florida.
The next day, the US Coast Guard said a good Samaritan notified watchstanders of a green raft with three people aboard about 23 miles southeast of Marathon.
While on Friday, a Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations airplane crew notified Sector Key West watchstanders of a rustic vessel with nine people aboard about two miles south of Marathon.
“Navigating the Florida Straits is difficult and unpredictable in rustic vessels,” said Lieutenant Commander Mario Gil, Coast Guard Liaison Officer, US Embassy Havana. “Taking to the season unsafe vessels is dangerous and can result in loss of life.”
Since October 1, 2020, the Coast Guard interdicted 729 Cubans compared to 5,396 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2016; 1,468 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2017; 259 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2018; 313 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2019; and 49 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2020.
CMC
