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Suspected smugglers on Jet Skis caught 30 miles offshore Key West
BY ADAM LINHARDT Citizen Staff
alinhardt@keysnews.com
Two Cuban-born men on personal watercraft were arrested Friday night after fleeing from a Coast Guard cutter 30 miles south of Key West.
"It wouldn't be the first time we've seen Jet Skis this far offshore, but it's not very common," said Coast Guard Investigative Service Agent in Charge Paul Shultz. "Jet Skis this far offshore screams of migrant smuggling."
Both men had six 5-gallon fuel tanks with them and ran from the crew of the cutter Margaret Norvell for 45 minutes before giving up about 11 p.m., Shultz said.
Antonio Rodriguez, a U.S. citizen, and Ricardo Gonzalez, a legal resident, were both charged Monday with fleeing and eluding. Neither man has been indicted as the grand jury doesn't convene until next week, Shultz said.
The Coast Guard is still investigating the case, but all signs point to smuggling, as they were also outfitted with GPS and extra drinking water, said Coast Guard Keys commanding officer Capt. Al Young.
"Their thinking is that the size of the Jet Ski makes them more able to escape detection," Young said. "The bottom line is that I haven't seen any outrun radio signals and satellite communications.
We know they're out there and they're not fooling anybody."
Young declined to discuss the methods the Coast Guard uses to interdict vessels.
Whether or not the men were meeting with people on boats and running them quickly ashore remains part of the investigation.
"Much of that is speculation right now," Shultz said.
The men were well into the Gulf Stream, where even a 1-foot chop can hinder a personal watercraft, but the Coast Guard has had cases in the past of such vessels making the run to Cuba, Shultz said.
"Smuggling is a ever-evolving crime down here and new methods are always arising, and we're always prepared for them," Shultz said. "We're used to chasing guys at 40-plus knots."
The new fast-response cutter Margaret Norvell is typically based in Miami, but has been in Key West training as the new ships continue to come online throughout the Coast Guard fleet in South Florida as well as nationwide.
alinhardt@keysnews.com
BY ADAM LINHARDT Citizen Staff
alinhardt@keysnews.com
Two Cuban-born men on personal watercraft were arrested Friday night after fleeing from a Coast Guard cutter 30 miles south of Key West.
"It wouldn't be the first time we've seen Jet Skis this far offshore, but it's not very common," said Coast Guard Investigative Service Agent in Charge Paul Shultz. "Jet Skis this far offshore screams of migrant smuggling."
Both men had six 5-gallon fuel tanks with them and ran from the crew of the cutter Margaret Norvell for 45 minutes before giving up about 11 p.m., Shultz said.
Antonio Rodriguez, a U.S. citizen, and Ricardo Gonzalez, a legal resident, were both charged Monday with fleeing and eluding. Neither man has been indicted as the grand jury doesn't convene until next week, Shultz said.
The Coast Guard is still investigating the case, but all signs point to smuggling, as they were also outfitted with GPS and extra drinking water, said Coast Guard Keys commanding officer Capt. Al Young.
"Their thinking is that the size of the Jet Ski makes them more able to escape detection," Young said. "The bottom line is that I haven't seen any outrun radio signals and satellite communications.
We know they're out there and they're not fooling anybody."
Young declined to discuss the methods the Coast Guard uses to interdict vessels.
Whether or not the men were meeting with people on boats and running them quickly ashore remains part of the investigation.
"Much of that is speculation right now," Shultz said.
The men were well into the Gulf Stream, where even a 1-foot chop can hinder a personal watercraft, but the Coast Guard has had cases in the past of such vessels making the run to Cuba, Shultz said.
"Smuggling is a ever-evolving crime down here and new methods are always arising, and we're always prepared for them," Shultz said. "We're used to chasing guys at 40-plus knots."
The new fast-response cutter Margaret Norvell is typically based in Miami, but has been in Key West training as the new ships continue to come online throughout the Coast Guard fleet in South Florida as well as nationwide.
alinhardt@keysnews.com
