Coast Guard, CBP, DR Navy intercept 108 migrants near Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN — U.S Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Dominican Republic Navy surface and air units interdicted three vessels carrying 108 migrants during three separate unlawful maritime migration voyages near Puerto Rico.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo completed the repatriation of 64 of the migrants from two of the interdictions to authorities from the Dominican Republic Navy in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, Tuesday. The most recent interdiction occurred Tuesday morning, when two CBP, Caribbean Air and Marine Branch marine units stopped a 20-foot makeshift vessel, 11 nautical miles west of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo to the scene. Once on scene, the crew of cutter Isaac Mayo embarked 11 migrants, nine men and a woman who claimed to be nationals of the Dominican Republic, as well as one other woman who claimed Haitian nationality. 

The second interdiction occurred Monday, after the aircrew of a CBP, Caribbean Air and Marine Branch multi-role enforcement aircraft sighted a 30-foot makeshift vessel south of Mona Island, Puerto Rico. Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo to the scene. Once on scene, the crew of cutter Isaac Mayo embarked 53 migrants, 48 men and five women, who claiming to be Dominican Republic nationals.