Multiple human smugglers and more than 20 Cuban migrants were detained in Key Largo on Thursday afternoon after witnesses told law enforcement they saw a vessel offloading a large group of people near the Seven Mile Bridge.
The U.S. Border Patrol said they’re investigating the incident, which began Thursday morning when deputies stopped a trailered center console at the Marathon public boat ramp for having no tie-downs. Witnesses reported to law enforcement that they saw a vessel matching the boat’s description offloading more than 20 people near the north end of the Seven Mile Bridge.
A short time later, deputies stopped an orange sedan and white van for speeding near MM 104 in Key Largo. Deputies confirmed the passengers inside the vehicles matched the description of those seen earlier jumping off a boat near the Seven Mile Bridge.
Walter Slosar, CBP chief patrol agent, said via X, or formerly Twitter, that they arrested 21 Cuban migrants and multiple suspected human smugglers during the traffic stop in Key Largo. Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations in Miami are investigating the human smuggling event.
