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Seventh Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office
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| Press Release |
Date: Oct. 4, 2006 Contact: Ricardo Castrodad Sector San Juan Public Affairs Specialist (787) 510-7923 |
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Coast Guard Repatriates 84 Dominican Migrants to Dominican Republic Navy Vessel Canopus |
| SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Chincoteague repatriated 84 Dominican Republic migrants to the Dominican Republic Navy Vessel Canopus at approximately 8:30 a.m. today.
The Chincoteague was en route to the Dominican Republic to repatriate 36 Dominicans previously interdicted approximately 30 miles northeast of Cabo Engaño, Dominican Republic Tuesday afternoon, when they interdicted a migrant boat today carrying 48 Dominicans approximately 10 miles southeast of La Romana, Dominican Republic. During the interdiction, the migrant's yola began taking on water. The crew of the Chincoteague had already provided the migrants with life vests before the vessel began sinking. By the time Chincoteague's crew had rescued 25 of the 48 migrants, the Dominican Republic Navy Vessel Canopus arrived on scene and embarked the remaining 23 migrants. The 36 migrants aboard Chincoteague plus the newly interdicted 25 were safely repatriated at sea in the vicinity of Isla Saona, Dominican Republic. The crew of the Canopus also arrived to the scene and embarked 23 migrants whom remained aboard the migrant boat.Tuesday's interdiction began with the aircrew of a Coast Guard HU-25 Falcon jet locating the migrants at around 2:45 p.m. The migrants were traveling aboard a grossly overloaded 30-foot boat. A Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Borinquen, Aguadilla, flew rescue support overhead during Tuesday's as well as today's interdiction and transfer. The migrant boats were attempting to cross the Mona Passage traveling illegally to Puerto Rico. Coast Guard Cutter Chincoteague is a 110-foot patrol boat based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. ### |
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