40 Illegal Aliens Interdicted Near Western Puerto Rico! 

On June 6, at 12:28 a.m., the Caribbean Air and Marine Operations Center detected a target of interest west of Desecheo Island. CAMOC relayed the information to a National Air Security Operations Center DHC-8 aircrew, who located the 25 to 30 foot rustic vessel with multiple people onboard. 

The vessel appeared disabled and unable to make way. The DHC-8 aircrew maintained surveillance and guided a U.S. Coast Guard cutter to the location. As the cutter approached, the vessel began moving toward Puerto Rico’s shoreline. 

The USCG intercepted the vessel at around 2 a.m. Forty individuals were apprehended - 36 nationals from the Dominican Republic (34 adult males, 2 adult females), three Haitian nationals (all adult males), and one Uzbekistan national (adult male).