SANTO DOMINGO.- The number of Cuban citizens who are penetrating Dominican territory illegally\ across the Haitian border greatly concerns the States United Embassy in the country, because for most the final goal is to reach that North American nation.

The Cubans are using the stretch between this country and Puerto Rico’s Mona Island, where from January 1 to August 7 this year, a total of 600 Cubans have managed to enter the U.S possession, using yachts, speedboats and other watercraft.

According to a source quoted by the newspaper El Nacional, the Cubans are brought to Dominican Republic illegally across the border zone, specifically Dajabón, whereas others enter the country as tourists and later head toward American territory, by sea.

According to the source, the Cubans are recruited by members of networks which traffic with undocumented people, those who have connections with their relatives, mainly in Puerto Rico, New York and Miami, where they receive a high sums of money to take their relatives from Cuba to Haiti and then into this country across the border, and ultimately to American territory, mainly aboard rickety boats.

Additionally, a United States embassy source revealed that there is great concern from the high number of Cubans who clandestinely enter Puerto Rico’s Mona Island, using boats which easily leave from Dominican Republic, despite the Navy’s monitoring.

The figure provided by the U.S. Embassy source on the Cubans who have managed to reach Mona Island so far this year, stands at 600.