40 Migrants Apprehended Near Puerto Rico After Air Surveillance Detection

A vessel carrying migrants was intercepted near Desecheo Island after being detected during an overnight surveillance operation conducted by U.S. Air and Marine Operations on 6 June at around 12:28 a.m.

Air and Marine Operations, a unit of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, identified a target of interest west of Desecheo Island and passed the information to a National Air Security Operations Center DHC-8 aircrew.

The aircraft located a 25- to 30-foot rustic vessel carrying multiple people onboard. The vessel appeared disabled and unable to maneuver at sea.

The aircrew maintained surveillance and directed a U.S. Coast Guard cutter toward the vessel’s position. As the cutter approached, the vessel began moving toward the shoreline of Puerto Rico.

The U.S. Coast Guard intercepted the vessel at approximately 2:00 a.m., resulting in the apprehension of 40 individuals.

Those onboard included 36 nationals from the Dominican Republic, made up of 34 adult males and 2 adult females. Three Haitian nationals, all adult males, were also detained, along with one adult male national from Uzbekistan.