CBP, Coast Guard intercept migrant vessel heading for Puerto Rico; 40 apprehended including Uzbek national

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) peculiar agents nabbed dozens of migrants from the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Uzbekistan aft the 30-foot vessel they were traveling successful was targeted adjacent Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico.

The cognition began successful the aboriginal hours of June 6, conscionable earlier 12:30 a.m. section time, erstwhile the Caribbean Air and Marine Operations Center archetypal detected a people of involvement westbound of the island. 

CBP officials said the quality was instantly relayed to a National Air Security Operations Center DHC-8 aircrew, which subsequently tracked down the 25- to 30-foot rustic vas carrying 40 migrants.

US COAST GUARD EXPANDS BORDER PATROL EFFORTS TO COMBAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

Customs and Border Protection helped the U.S. Coast Guard to apprehend 40 migrants adjacent Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico. (Ozzy Trevino/U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Public Affairs Visual Communications Division)

Initially, the vessel appeared to beryllium disabled and "unable to marque way," according to authorities.

The DHC-8 aircrew maintained surveillance from supra and guided a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) cutter to the location. 

OVERCROWDED MIGRANT VESSEL WITH 240 PEOPLE ON BOARD INTERCEPTED NEAR TURKS AND CAICOS

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard, said 40 migrants were apprehended from the tiny vessel. (Francis Dean/Corbis via Getty Images, File)

As the cutter approached the boat, it abruptly began moving toward the Puerto Rican shoreline.

The USCG successfully intercepted the vessel astatine astir 2 a.m.

Officials said the vessel intended to disembark successful Puerto Rico. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images, File)

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Authorities detained each 40 migrants onboard, which included 34 men and 2 women from the Dominican Republic, 3 men from Haiti and 1 antheral from Uzbekistan.