Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo — The Mexican Navy rescued nine Cuban nationals found adrift in a makeshift boat off the coast of Isla Mujeres on Wednesday night, officials announced Thursday.
A passing cargo ship spotted the small vessel carrying a group of men in Mexican waters and alerted state authorities that the boat was stranded and drifting. Personnel from the Mexican Navy’s Isla Mujeres base launched a search operation and located the boat east of the island in Quintana Roo waters.
In a statement, the Navy said personnel from its Fifth Naval Region, using a Defender-class boat from the Search, Rescue and Maritime Surveillance Station (ENSAR) and Naval Medical Services, reached the individuals. All nine people on board received medical attention and were found to be in good health.
They were subsequently transported to the Naval Station in Puerto Juárez, Quintana Roo, and handed over to the National Migration Institute (INM) for legal processing.
This incident follows a similar rescue last month, when seven Cuban nationals were found adrift off the coast of Mahahual on the Costa Maya. They were initially assisted by local fishermen before being aided by Navy personnel.
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