MIAMI, United States (CMC) – The United States Coast Guard says the crew of its Cutter Winslow Griesser on Friday transferred 15 migrants to the Bahamas, following an interdiction 22 miles east of Miami Beach.

The transfer came after a US Customs Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations law enforcement crew intercepted the vessel carrying 19 migrants on August 18, 22 miles east of Miami Beach.

It said once aboard the Coast Guard cutter, interdicted migrants are processed to determine their identity and are provided food, water, shelter and basic medical attention before disposition.

“This successful interdiction is a clear demonstration of our unwavering resolve to secure America’s maritime borders,” said Lieutenant Commander Justin Dadlani, Coast Guard liaison officer to the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands.

“Collaboration between the partners within the Department of Homeland Security and Bahamian authorities is a critical component of our national security strategy, acting as a force multiplier that allows us to detect and neutralise threats before they reach our shores,” he added.

Continuing, he said, “Every migrant vessel interdicted at sea is a victory for border security and a blow to the criminal networks that exploit human lives for profit”.

The US Coast Guard said it, along with its Operation Vigilant Sentry (OVS) partners, maintains a “continual presence with air, land and sea assets in the Florida Straits, the Windward Passage, the Mona Passage and the Caribbean Sea in support of Operation Vigilant Sentry.

“The OVS combined, multilayered approach is designed to protect the safety of life at sea while preventing unlawful maritime entry to the United States and its territories,” the US Coast Guard added.