In a coordinated maritime operation, the United States Coast Guard successfully intercepted an overloaded, improvised vessel carrying migrants near Mona Island last Friday. The interdiction resulted in the repatriation of 60 individuals consisting of 43 Haitian men, 11 Haitian women, and six Dominican nationals.
The operation commenced when a Customs and Border Protection patrol aircraft detected the precarious vessel approximately 50 nautical miles off the coast of Puerto Rico. The Coast Guard cutter Thetis, supported by an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter, responded to secure the area and ensure the safety of all persons aboard the makeshift craft.
Following established protocols, Coast Guard personnel provided immediate humanitarian assistance including nourishment, hydration, temporary shelter, and medical evaluation before transferring the migrants to the Dominican Republic Navy. Officials emphasized the extreme dangers of irregular migration via unseaworthy, overcrowded vessels that frequently undertake the perilous journey through the Mona Passage.
This interception represents another successful mission under ‘Operation Vigilant Sentry,’ the ongoing surveillance initiative targeting known migration routes between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Maritime authorities continue to monitor these waters intensively to prevent tragic outcomes associated with unauthorized migration attempts.