Coast Guard interdicts, transfers 32 aliens to Dominican Republic Navy authorities for repatriation

News Release   U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin IslandsContact: Coast Guard Puerto Rico PA OfficeOffice: 787-729-2381After Hours: 787-510-79237th District Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands online newsroom   Coast Guard interdicts, transfers 32 aliens to Dominican Republic Navy authorities for repatriation 03/10/2025 01:55 PM EDT The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier transferred 32 aliens to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel, Saturday, following the interdiction of an overloaded makeshift vessel in Mona Passage waters near Dominican Republic.  The interdiction occurred Saturday night after a forward-deployed Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew on a routine maritime border security patrol detected a 25-foot makeshift vessel in international waters, approximately 25 nautical miles northeast of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Sector San Juan watchstanders diverted the USCGC Joseph Napier to interdict the suspect vessel. Shortly thereafter, the USCGC Joseph Napier crew arrived on-scene and deployed the cutter’s over-the-horizon small boat which stopped the suspect vessel. Following the interdiction, the Dominican Republic Navy patrol vessel Aldebaran arrived on-scene and embarked all 32 aliens for their return to the Dominican Republic.   For more breaking news follow us on Twitter and Facebook.