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The Port Authority of Guantánamo reported this Thursday about the discovery of an abandoned boat in the area of "Mesa Abajo, Playa Rufino," in Cayo Güín, Baracoa, which occurred on January 8, 2026.
The statement, published by the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) through its social media channels, describes the vessel as having an aluminum hull, white in color, with a length of 3.90 meters, a beam of 1.42 meters, and a draft of 0.57 meters, without any other identifying information such as name, registration number, or engine.
The report is produced with a three-month delay relative to the actual date of the discovery, a common pattern in this type of official communication, which is typically published when the process of reclamation or confiscation is formally initiated.
According to Article 214, section c) of the Decree No. 317, Regulation of Law No. 115 "On Maritime, River and Lakes Navigation" of Cuba, owners have 30 calendar days from the publication to claim the vessel; if they do not, the State will proceed to confiscate it.
Cayo Güín is a popular council in the municipality of Baracoa, located on the northern coast of the Guantánamo province, facing the Atlantic Ocean. It has historically been used as a departure point by irregular migrants attempting to reach southern Florida.
The discovery adds to the report made the previous day, when MININT informed about a blue two-seater kayak named "TRIBE", measuring 4.02 meters in length, found on January 9, 2026, at the entrance of the Port of Moa, Holguín.
Both cases reflect a recurring pattern in the eastern region of Cuba: small vessels abandoned on the shores, which authorities associate with attempts of irregular migration, where migrants use these boats to reach open sea and transfer to other vessels.
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