SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Jan. 10, CMC – Forty undocmented aliens from the Dominican Republic and Haiti were intercepted by the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard and  the Puerto Rico Police Department on the weekendd as they attempted to reach Puerto Rico.

On Tuesday, security officials reported that on January 5, border patrol agents detected a vessel without navigational lights moving towards Aguada, Puerto Rico.

The agents coordinated for intercept with the US Coast Guard Command Center, and the PRPD Joint Forces of Rapid Action (FURA, for its Spanish acronym).

A FURA vessel intercepted a “yola” type vessel approximately four miles off the coast of Aguada, finding total of 12 undocumented migrants; four adult male Dominican Republic nationals, five adult female Dominican Republic nationals and three adult male Haitian nationals.

The group was detained and subsequently transferred to a Coast Guard Cutter.

Upon completing embarkation of 12 aliens ,the cutter crew identified and intercepted a second vessel with 28 subjects on board.

They were all detained and subsequently transferred to another vessel.

Biometric checks were conducted on all subjects and revealed that 10 aliens met the guidelines for prosecution related to prior criminal and immigration violations.

On Monday, the Coast Guard transferred 10 aliens to Border Patrol custody at the Mayaguez Port of Entry. The remaining 29 undocumented aliens were repatriated to the Dominican Republic.

So far this year, Border Patrol Agents have apprehended 89 aliens that have illegally entered or attempted to enter the United States via the Mona Passage.