The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

TWENTY-ONE Cuban migrants, including a young child, were taken to Grand Bahama on Monday after a go-fast vessel was intercepted on Sunday by the US Coast Guard in Bahamian waters.

An American, of Cuban descent, who was operating the speedboat, was taken into custody by US Coast Guard and transported back to US to face charges of attempted human smuggling.

This latest group, which consists of 16 men, four women and one child, arrived at Freeport Harbour around 9am aboard the USCG Cutter Robert Yared and were turned over to Bahamian authorities.

Bahamas immigration officer Napthali Cooper reported that a go-fast vessel travelling in the direction of Florida was intercepted by US Coast Guard officials on Sunday.

He said the migrants claimed that they left Cuba sometime last Wednesday with the intention of going to the United States.

The migrants were taken to the Department of Immigration headquarters, where they were examined by a medical team from the Surveillance and Infectious Disease Unit of Public Hospitals Authority.

Mr Cooper said the group will be flown to Nassau, where they will be detained at the Detention Centre in New Providence to await repatriation to Cuba.