The Coast Guard in Miami released this photo Jan. 11, 2013 of a “grossly overloaded” 40-foot sail freighter that was intercepted southwest of Long Island, Bahamas, Jan. 4, 2013. The 164 Haitians on board were repatriated on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, the Coast Guard said.
COAST GUARD HANDOUT
By MIAMI HERALD STAFF
DadeNews@miamiherald.com
The Coast Guard on Friday released a photo of a perilously over-packed wooden sail boat stuffed with 164 Haitians.
The boat was intercepted a week ago off the Bahamas, and the would-be migrants were returned to their homeland, the Coast Guard said.
The 270-foot long USCG Cutter Bear intercepted the “grossly overloaded” 40-foot sailboat southwest of Long Island, Bahamas, on Jan. 4, a Coast Guard statement said.
The migrants were brought aboard the Bear, the Coast Guard said, and given food and water and basic medical care before their repatriation Thursday to Cap Haitian, on the northern coast of Haiti, closest to the Bahamas.
The U.S. Coast Guard patrols that section of the Caribbean to deter illegal migration to South Florida.