Isla Mujeres, Q.R. — Authorities locate over a dozen people after the report of an unknown vessel off the island of Contoy in the state’s northern waters. The Mexican Navy rescued a group of Cubans in Isla Mujeres waters after receiving a report of a precarious boat adrift.
The 12 men and four women found onboard were all undocumented Cuban nationals. Their improvised boat was located near Isla Contoy in the municipality of Isla Mujeres early Friday.
Personnel from the Ninth Naval Region of the Ministry of the Navy aboard an interceptor boat and with support from the Naval Search, Rescue and Maritime Surveillance Station of Isla Mujeres rescued 16 foreigners at sea.
Their vessel was located six nautical miles (approximately 11 kilometers) northeast of nature preserve island of Contoy.
“Sailors carried out the rescue fter receiving a report from the Isla Mujeres Harbor Master’s Office in the Command and Control Room of the Ninth Naval Region, reporting on a possible vessel with allegedly undocumented crew members northeast of Contoy,” the Secretary of the Navy said in a statement.
Naval personnel aboard an interceptor patrol, which was carrying out maritime surveillance tours, located and rescued the aforementioned artisanal vessel with 16 crew members on board (12 men and four women) with support from a Defender ENSAR boat from Isla Mujeres.
The people were rescued and transferred to the Puerto Juárez Naval Station from where they were handed over to authorities of the National Institute of Migration and International Health to carry out the corresponding procedures.
On January 30, a cruise ship spotted a drifting vessel carrying 12 off the coast of Mahahual. Mexican Navy personnel met the ship, finding 12 Cuban nationals were on board.
