The Tribune

DEFENCE Force officers intercepted a 40 foot vessel registered with the Cuban government and detained five Cuban nationals found aboard, the Ministry of National Security reported yesterday.

The incident took place on Saturday afternoon around 75 miles south of Andros off Cay Lobos, on the Great Bahama Bank. According to the ministry’s statement, the Cubans were detained in connection with an illegal fishing investigation.

The vessel was escorted to the Defence Force Base at Coral Harbour, arriving at about 9pm on Sunday.

A quantity of fish was confiscated, including a large quantity of shark and a small quantity of stingray and scalefish.

The Cuban nationals were handed over to the Royal Bahamas Police Force and were last night in custody at the Cable Beach Police Station.

A Spanish translator is assisting law enforcement officials with the exercise.

The Cuban Ambassador to the Bahamas was informed of the incident and is in communication with Bahamian officials regarding the matter, the ministry said.

This is the first arrest of a Cuban vessel in Bahamian waters since the signing of the Maritime Delimitation Agreement with Cuba in October 2011 and the enactment of regulations against shark fishing in July, 2011 as per the Fisheries Resources (Jurisdiction and Conservation) Act.

Officials from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Department of Immigration and the Department of Marine Resources are collaborating in their on-going investigation into this incident.