Web-posted: 9:39 a.m. May 12, 2000. sun-sentinel.com

MARATHON -- Twenty-seven Cubans found wandering early Thursday near an oceanside park in the Florida Keys were probably brought here by smugglers, U.S. Border Patrol officials say.

Agents found the group -- 13 men, eight women and six youths -- around 1:30 a.m., all appearing to be in good health, officials said.

The group told the Immigration and Naturalization Service that they each paid 1,000 Cuban pesos, or about $48, to buy a boat for their trip.

They claimed the boat sank 3 miles from land, but they were rescued by two Americans with a boat.

Border Patrol officials say the Cubans were likely dropped off by smugglers because the accounts of their journey were inconsistent.

They were placed in INS custody pending interviews by immigration officials.

Cuban immigrants who reach shore generally are allowed to stay in the United States and seek asylum, while those picked up at sea are returned to Cuba.

Copyright 1999, Sun-Sentinel Co. & South Florida Interactive, Inc.

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