Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection boarding teams detain 15 Dominican stowaways

DATE: June 22, 2009 3:33:01 PM EDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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News Release

Date: June 22, 2009

Sector San Juan Public Affairs

787-510-7923

Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection boarding teams detain 15 Dominican stowaways

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection boarding teams located and detained 15 Dominican Republic stowaways aboard a tug and barge Sunday during a random security boarding in San Juan Harbor.

The 15 Dominican men were trying to enter illegally to Puerto Rico aboard the tug and barge Ann T. Cheramie and Crimson Clover.

During the pier-side boarding one of the stowaways jumped into the water to avoid custody, he was recovered safely from the water and taken into custody by Customs and Border Protection Officers on scene.

The remaining 14 stowaways were turned over to Customs and Border Protection Officers for further processing.

The last port call of the Anne T. Cheramie and Crimson Clover was Rio Haina, Puerto Rico.

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