| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District |
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| Press Release |
Date: Oct. 20, 2004 Contact: Petty Officer Sandra Bartlett |
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911 CALL TURNS UP STOLEN VESSEL SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - A 911 call to the Coast Guard turned up a stolen vessel from Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, Monday morning, after it became disabled 13 miles southwest of Cabo Rojo. The call was recieved at approximately 7:15 a.m., when the master of the 25-foot (yola) vessel stated that the boat was out of gas, drifting with 34 people on board. Coast Guard Cutter Sapelo, a 110-foot patrol boat from San Juan, was diverted to the scene, as well as an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter deployed from Air Station Miami. Forces United for Rapid Action was also called to the scene. The vessel was initially located by a FURA aircraft which reported to him there were only two people on board. Once the Coast Guard arrived on scene, it was determined that the vessel was reported stolen, and the two people on board were Dominican Republic nationals. The master of the vessel admitted calling the emergency 911 number from his cellular phone, and to claiming 34 people were on board to ensure a Coast Guard rescue. A further investigation determined that the vessel and its passengers were en route Dominican Republic for pick up and transfer of migrants to Puerto Rico. The two subjects were brought on board Sapelo and were transferred to FURA officers in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, for prosecution. The vessel was towed to Boqueron, Puerto Rico, by a FURA Cobra vessel. ### The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the |
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