The U.S. Coast Guard recently transferred 10 aliens back to the Bahamas after intercepting a 30-foot sailboat about forty miles off the Fort Lauderdale coast.
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Novell boarded the boat on Friday and discovered 10 people on board, according to a press release. The aliens were then transferred to the cutter for processing and later moved to USCGC Margaret Norvell.
"In the face of daunting, 8-foot seas, the crew of the Robert Yered demonstrated extraordinary professionalism and dedication for hours on end," Cutter Commanding Officer Lt. Richard Rodriguez said. "It is precisely this level of steadfast commitment that allows us to succeed in our missions. Their performance was a testament to our readiness to save lives and protect our nation's maritime borders, even under the most grueling conditions."
The aliens were given food, water, shelter, and medical attention aboard the cutter before disposition, the Coast Guard noted. The interdiction is the latest by the agency in patrolling Florida's coastline, the Caribbean Sea, and surrounding areas by land and sea, which includes efforts from Operation Vigilant Sentry, Operation Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos partners.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced an Operation Vigilant Sentry bust earlier this year. DeSantis noted the operation has stopped nearly 18,000 aliens from arriving on Florida shores at the time.
The Coast Guard has made several interdictions over the past year, including for narcotics valued at nearly $400 million and $75 million in a pair of offloads over the past year.
