Boatpeople tragedy prompts arrests, interrogations, transfers

Santo Domingo.- The Navy Thursday announced arrests, interrogations and transfers of its personnel assigned to four naval posts in the north coast city of Nagua, in the wake of the tragic mishap on Sunday which thus far has claimed the lives of a least tree people.

Naval Intelligence director Luis Castro Hermon said the sailors of the posts at Bobal, Matancita, Baoba and La Jagua haven’t been suspended, but instead under investigation and transferred to Armed Forces Headquarters.

Though the number of missing from the shipwrecked has yet to be determined, Castro affirms that the yola type boat had a capacity for no more 40 people and not 95 as some reported.

He also revealed that the illegal trip’s organizer has been identified, and is being sought.

The official, after noting that illegal crossings to Puerto Rico are common during these months, added that in the last few days, 111 people have been arrested and five boats and seven outboard motors seized in Bayahibe, Guayacanes, San Pedro, La Romana, Farolí and Samaná.