The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A CUBAN boater living in the United States was arrested with five other people by immigration authorities at the Lucaya Marina in Grand Bahama.

According to reports, around 9.30am on Monday, immigration officials acting on information went to the marina where people were suspected of taking preparatory steps to be smuggled into the US.

When officers arrived, they discovered two men onboard a vessel preparing to depart and ordered them to stop.

During a search of the vessel, four Chinese nationals and an Ecuadorian were discovered hiding inside a locked cabin. The men had overstayed their visit in the Bahamas and were taken into custody.

According to Mr Cooper, the other two men on deck - a Cuban national with permanent residency in the US and an Ecuadorian who had also overstayed his visitor’s time - were also taken into custody.

The Cuban national claimed that he and another friend, who was piloting the vessel, left Boca Raton, Florida, around 6am on Monday and arrived two hours later.

However, records at the marina indicated that the Cuban had arrived alone.

The men were taken to Immigration headquarters, where an investigation is underway. Formal charges are expected to be filed.