Cuban migrants stopped at sea, returned to island

The migrants were intercepted in three separate incidents last week, the Coast Guard said. Most were repatriated to Cuba, while others were taken to Guantánamo.

On May 2, the cutter Key Biscayne crew spotted five male Cubans aboard a vessel about five miles south of Key West, the Coast Guard said.

On Tuesday, an Air Station Miami HU-25 Falcon jet crew spotted a 27-foot pleasure craft being towed with 26 Cubans and three suspected smugglers aboard, the Coast Guard said.

The three suspected smugglers were transferred to Customs and Border Protection.

On Wednesday, a person spotted five male Cubans aboard a craft about 15 miles south of Key West and contacted the Coast Guard. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Key Biscayne responded, the Coast Guard said.