April
16, 2006: On the night of April 4-5, 2006, the Cuban Coast Guard exchanged fire
with three men in a 40-foot power boat just inside Cuban waters. Reportedly,
the fight began when the Cuban Coastguardsmen hailed the vessel, which replied
with automatic weapons fire. The boat was subsequently boarded, and the three
men aboard were arrested; two of them were wounded. The three men, one of whom
has since died, were Cuban-Americans from Florida. Normally such an incident
would lead to major headlines, fanned by Cuban exiles, but this incident has
noted with minimal attention. Apparently the men were smugglers, possibly
occasionally bringing out people seeking to flee to the U.S., but more
frequently carrying other goods, which has dampened publicity about the
incident.
Although
not widely broadcast, the U.S. and Cuban Coast Guards frequently pass tips back
and forth regarding smuggling, as drug dealers have a market in Cuba, and even
when seeking to carry their good to the U.S. frequently try running through
Cuban territorial seas to throw off pursuit.
