Fishermen Urge U.S. to Return Stolen Boat Used for Migrant Voyage: "It's Our Livelihood"

A group of fishermen from Matanzas is urgently appealing for the return of a wooden boat that was reportedly stolen and used to transport 10 migrants from Cuba to the Florida Keys last week. This vessel, which is crucial for their survival, is currently held by U.S. authorities. "This boat is our lifeline. It is our primary source of income, not just for us but for many families who depend on it to survive," stated the wife of the boat's owner in an interview with the Miami Herald, which first reported the incident. She requested anonymity.

The detailed investigation by the U.S. publication revealed that the boat was taken from Cárdenas and days later appeared in the Florida Keys, used to carry a group of migrants, including a 10-year-old child. Upon arriving in Tavernier on Thursday, September 5, the captain and passengers spent the night in the mangroves before heading to a nearby shopping area.

Discovery of the Boat and Arrests

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office noted that the following day, an officer saw a vehicle picking up several of the recent arrivals. When stopped, the occupants confessed to having arrived from Cuba aboard the vessel. The boat was found floating near Rock Harbor by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations agents. It has since been under the custody of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

U.S. authorities arrested two men suspected of being involved in the human smuggling operation. Jesús Herrera Belett, 38, from Key West, is facing nine charges related to human trafficking. Jesús Medina Esquijarosa, 56, from Miami, has been charged with complicity in the same crime. Both are detained in Monroe County Jail with bonds set at $700,000 and $225,000, respectively, as per official reports.

Official Responses and Frustrations

Sheriff Rick Ramsay expressed gratitude to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Border Patrol officers for their dedicated efforts in this case. However, he voiced his disappointment with federal authorities, saying, "I'm frustrated that the U.S. Attorney's Office remains unwilling to investigate human trafficking incidents in the Florida Keys. Nevertheless, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and State Attorney's Office will continue to pursue these cases to hold individuals accountable and address this human trafficking crisis, unlike the U.S. Attorney's Office."

Challenges in Returning the Boat

The primary concern for Matanzas fishermen is reclaiming the boat they insist is essential for their community. Sheriff Ramsay cautioned that getting it back won't be straightforward, urging the owners to file a formal complaint with Cuban authorities and forward it to the U.S. Department of State and Border Patrol. This step might just be the beginning of a lengthy and complicated process, given the diplomatic ties between the two nations. An FWC spokesperson confirmed that procedures for the possible repatriation of the boat are under review.

According to the arrest report cited by the Miami Herald, Herrera Belett told detectives he owned the boat and was traveling with his wife, son, and seven other passengers. He claimed to have crossed the Florida Straits in 2022 on another fishing boat, the "Elvira," and settled in Detroit, where he worked until he could afford to buy a Scarab boat. In March 2023, he attempted to return to Cuba with that boat but was arrested by the Cuban Border Guard and imprisoned for a year.

The fisherman who made the claim emphasized, "Many families here depend on that boat to survive," highlighting the precarious conditions faced by the island's fishing communities. Meanwhile, the boat remains held in Florida, and the future of the fishermen seeking its return is uncertain, caught amidst international bureaucracy, stricter immigration laws, and the human plight that drives hundreds of Cubans to risk their lives at sea in search of a new future.