U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) special agents nabbed dozens of migrants from the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Uzbekistan after the 30-foot boat they were traveling in was targeted near Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico.
The operation began in the early hours of June 6, just before 12:30 a.m. local time, when the Caribbean Air and Marine Operations Center first detected a target of interest west of the island.
CBP officials said the intelligence was immediately relayed to a National Air Security Operations Center DHC-8 aircrew, which subsequently tracked down the 25- to 30-foot rustic vessel carrying 40 migrants.
Initially, the boat appeared to be disabled and "unable to make way," according to authorities.
The DHC-8 aircrew maintained surveillance from above and guided a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) cutter to the location.
As the cutter approached the boat, it suddenly began moving toward the Puerto Rican shoreline.
The USCG successfully intercepted the boat at about 2 a.m.
Authorities detained all 40 migrants onboard, which included 34 men and two women from the Dominican Republic, three men from Haiti and one man from Uzbekistan.