AS was stated in the informative note made public on April 6, under the headline "Human trafficking and death travel on speedboat with U.S. passport," at dawn on the previous day, Cuban Border Guard forces prevented a boat with U.S. registration from carrying out an operation of human smuggling via Bacunagua Cove south of Pinar del Río.

As a consequence of that, it was necessary to come to the aid of a group of 39 people on the coast, including 14 women and 7 children aged 23 months to 14 years, who were there under very difficult conditions waiting to illegally emigrate.

During the investigation process, it was established that the individuals who were going to be trafficked came from five provinces and had to walk long distances over swampy land and remain in a humid mosquito-plagued area without food or potable water reserves from midday of Monday 3 until Wednesday 5.

For that reason, many of them required immediate medical assistance and two children, aged 3 and 11, were rushed to a hospital with symptoms of dehydration and intoxication.

As a result of their parent’s irresponsibility, all of the minors required hospitalization. When they were left without any water reserves, several had to drink lake and swamp water. Their own relatives stated that had they not been rescued, the children could have lost their lives.

Once again, it has been shown how irresponsible and unscrupulous individuals are exposing their children to a double danger: drowning during the journey or becoming ill due to the inhospitable means generally chosen by traffickers.

The Cuban government has issued warnings for years regarding the risks of becoming involved in such dangerous adventures, and has insisted that those who wish to leave the country do so legally.

The main culprit of these events, as has been reiterated, is the U.S. government and its Cuban Adjustment Act, which encourages repeated illegal exits by the same individuals who are returned to Cuba. At the same time, that government is blocking the paperwork of those who are trying to emigrate legally, and moreover, it is failing to comply with migratory agreements.

Considering the seriousness of the actions perpetrated by the relatives of the minors by exposing them to grave risks to their health and their lives, the decision has been made to place the seven parents who were in custody of these children at the disposition of the Courts of Justice, which will determine the pertinent legal measures.