The Regional Captaincy of Puerto Juárez confirmed the arrival of at least two vessels carrying Cuban migrants on the shores of Quintana Roo, according to statements from regional captain Pedro Murillo Garay reported by the Mexican press.
The two cases were reported recently: in one, authorities found a Cuban couple on board; in the other, the vessel was transporting nine people.
Everyone was placed at the disposal of the National Migration Institute (INM), which will determine their legal status, including potential repatriation.
What the regional captain said
Murillo Garay explained that maritime surveillance is part of the routine duties of the port authority and that, during these patrols, the personnel locate both vessels with individuals lacking immigration documents and abandoned rafts along the coastline.
“At least two recent cases have been reported: one involving a couple on board and another with nine individuals. Most of the vessels detected are found without crew members,” the official stated.
When there are people on board, the Captaincy collaborates with the relevant authorities according to the established protocols.
A video denounces the presence of taxis alongside another boat
Alongside the official report, a video circulated on social media by the account "Central de noticias mx" showed the discovery of an additional vessel in Punta Misota, an area near the Nichupté lagoon and the Nizuc bridge, in the heart of the hotel area of Cancún.
In the audio recording, a collaborator of the reporter describes the situation: “I just passed by the channel and we found this boat right next to the little Cuban boat I mentioned to you. I don’t know, it seems like it’s another boat full of Cubans as well.”
The collaborator assured that several taxis were waiting for the passengers of the boat: "They hit about half an hour ago, but here’s the crazy part, there were already taxis waiting for those coming off the boat, they got them into the taxis and left."
Sources indicated that the vessels “entered the Nichupté lagoon, and neither the authorities of Cancun nor the Navy noticed.”
These claims have not been independently verified by any official Mexican authority.
A route that doesn't stop
In recent months, there have been additional arrivals of Cuban migrants on the Mexican shores.
In June, ten arrived at Isla Mujeres after several days at sea; in August, the Mexican Navy located a vessel with 19 Cubans, including seven minors.
In September, massive departures from Pinar del Río were documented on high-speed boats heading to Cancun.
The journey takes lives: in August, two young men — Leodannis Sánchez, 17, and Osmaikel, 19 — died during an attempt to cross from Pinar del Río.
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