The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

ANOTHER 20 Cuban migrants were intercepted at Cay Sal Bank in The Bahamas and brought to Grand Bahama, bringing the number taken in custody in Freeport this week to 47.

US Coast Guard officials turned over 27 Cubans on Tuesday, and brought this latest group into Freeport around 5pm on Wednesday.

According to reports, Bahamas immigration officers were alerted that the USCG Cutter Richard Etheridge had intercepted 20 migrants in a rustic vessel in the Cay Sal Bank area. The 19 men and one woman were taken into custody by the USCG.

The migrants told officials that they left Cuba on December 12, and were on their way to Florida.

The Cubans were taken to the Department of Immigration and were examined by a medical team from the Surveillance and Infectious Disease Unit at the PHA. They were expected to be flown to New Providence on Thursday where they will be detained at the Detention Centre to await repatriation.