Cuba Nabs Human Smugglers off Coast
Cuba has denounced Thursday a new human trafficking case perpetrated from the US, repeating the criminal nature of Washington´s policy and the deliberate use of migration policy against the island nation through the Cuban Ajustment Act.

Entitled "Human Trafficking and Death Travel with US Speedboat and Passport," Granma daily publishes an article on an event Wednesday evening off the southern coast of Pinar del Rio, when a speedboat registered in the US entered Cuban waters to traffic people.

On April 5, at 03:45 local time, the crew of a small patrol boat in the east of San Felipe Cays spotted a two-engine speedboat moving northeast, penetrating Cuban waters and reported it to the area Border Patrol Troops command post.

Immediately, coastguard units intercepted and ordered the traffickers to stop the boat, but were responded to with aggressive actions. The crew of the speedboat charged against one of the Cuban vessels, seriously damaging it almost to the point of capsizing.

Once arrested, the boat´s three crew members were taken to Pinar del Rio´s provincial hospital as they were injured, one seriously who later died from the inflicted wounds.

Local authorities identified two of the traffickers as Rafael Mesa Fariñas and Rosendo Salgado Castro, of Cuban origin with US passport. They are working on the identity of the deceased who carried no documents.

Investigators has confirmed the vessel had been used in previous human trafficking operations off the southern coast of Pinar del Rio.

It is registered in Florida under John Roberto, nicknamed Blue Sharp, a Cuban-American involved in human trafficking to Mexico from south Pinar del Rio.

The passports seized from two of the speedboat crew members (Rosendo Salgado and Rafael Mesa) confirm they have entry visas to Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Granma daily recalls that press from that Mexican state have provided evidence of the growing human trafficking of Cubans through Cancun, Islas Mujeres and other areas of Quintana Roo.

The paper also remarks that route was used by Cuban-Americans involved in terrorism to sneak into south Florida confessed terrorist Luis Posada Carriles, who remains in the US under the protection of the authorities.

As a result of the failed human trafficking operation 20 men, 12 women and 7 children were detained in Bacunagua, Pinar del Rio. Some of them, mainly the women and children, later returned home after providing testimonies.

Other participants in this action remain under arrest while the inquiry goes on.