25 Cuban refugees land on Longboat (Sarasota FL)

[graywarrior]

Sarasota Herald Tribune
STAFF REPORT

SARASOTA -- Two dozen Cuban refugees landed on Longboat Key on Monday morning, where they were spotted by a shrimp deliveryman about 5 a.m.

One of the refugees, who identified himself to authorities at Dennis Morales, told officials that the Cubans, ranging in age from 21 to 56 years old, had paid $2,000 each to be transported by boat from Cuba to the Miami area. They left Cuba on Friday, Morales said, according to police.

Authorities were not immediately sure how the Cubans wound up on Longboat Key.

The 25 refugees were dropped off on Beer Can Beach about 4:30 a.m., Morales told police.

A half-hour later they were wet and cold and shaking when a deliveryman spotted them on the roadside at the intersection of Gulf of Mexico Drive and Northshore Road, a police report says. Three of the refugees were treated for symptoms of hypothermia.

U.S. customs and immigration officials took custody of the Cubans about 10 a.m.

The U.S. Coast Guard reported that it is still searching for the 30-foot boat, and that it was tracking a "possible suspect" craft.

[mitchtv]

1. U.S. customs and immigration officials took custody of the Cubans

Yeah right to the welfare office to get their paper together . God forbid they get the treatment Mexicans get. Time to repeal the Cuban Readjustment Act.