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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) special agents nabbed dozens of migrants from the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Uzbekistan after the 30-foot boat they were traveling in was targeted near Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico.
The operation began in the early hours of June 6, just before 12:30 a.m. local time, when the Caribbean Air and Marine Operations Center first detected a target of interest west of the island.
CBP officials said the intelligence was immediately relayed to a National Air Security Operations Center DHC-8 aircrew, which subsequently tracked down the 25- to 30-foot rustic vessel carrying 40 migrants.
US COAST GUARD EXPANDS BORDER PATROL EFFORTS TO COMBAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Customs and Border Protection helped the U.S. Coast Guard to apprehend 40 migrants near Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico. (Ozzy Trevino/U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Public Affairs Visual Communications Division)
Initially, the boat appeared to be disabled and “unable to make way,” according to authorities.
The DHC-8 aircrew maintained surveillance from above and guided a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) cutter to the location.
OVERCROWDED MIGRANT VESSEL WITH 240 PEOPLE ON BOARD INTERCEPTED NEAR TURKS AND CAICOS
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, with help from the U.S. Coast Guard, said 40 migrants were apprehended from the small vessel. (Francis Dean/Corbis via Getty Images, File)
As the cutter approached the boat, it suddenly began moving toward the Puerto Rican shoreline.
The USCG successfully intercepted the boat at about 2 a.m.
Officials said the boat intended to disembark in Puerto Rico. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images, File)
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Authorities detained all 40 migrants onboard, which included 34 men and two women from the Dominican Republic, three men from Haiti and one man from Uzbekistan.