| Press Release |
Date: May 13, 2005 Contact: Lt. j.g. Eric Willis |
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MIGRANTS WORN OUT AFTER FIVE DAY CROSSING SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - A group of twenty six Dominican Republic Nationals was glad to see the orange and blue racing stripe of the Coast Guard Cutter Venturous after a five day transit aboard their 30 foot yola. Spotted by a Coast Guard Falcon jet at 11:30 a.m. this morning, the group of 19 men and 7 women initially tried to hide from the jet and change course but soon stopped and waited for the cutter to arrive. Cutter Venturous launched both of their small boats and distributed life jackets before bringing all twenty-six migrants safely aboard. Once aboard, the migrants were interviewed by the crew and given food water and medical attention if needed. Reportedly, the migrants departed on Monday afternoon from Rio San Juan, Dominican Republic. A city 37-miles east of Puerto Plata. "This group was very compliant, most were glad to see us after five days of just surviving the open seas in a 30 foot wooden boat" said LT Vickie Neblock, Operations Boss aboard the Cutter Venturous
Venturous small boats (Ven I and Ven II) flank the 30 foot yola 24 miles north west of Punta Borinquen, Puerto Rico. CGC Venturous is a 210 foot medium endurance cutter home ported in St. Petersburg, Florida ### The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the |
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