U.S. - Stowaways from Dominican Republic and Haiti

In recent weeks U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard have intercepted multiple stowaways aboard barges and vessels en route to the Jacksonville, Florida, area from the Dominican Republic .  The first incident occurred on 31 December 2007 and the latest on 6 January 2008.  Additionally, a stowaway incident occurred aboard a container vessel arriving in Puerto Rico from the Dominican Republic on 24 December 2007.  Owners and operators should employ extra vigilance on all vessel traffic departing the Dominican Republic and Haiti due to this recent increase in stowaway activity.