7 Cubans, presumably fleeing their country, landed off the coast of Belize this weekend and tonight they are in Belize police custody. The 7 men, ranging in ages from 21 to 42, were arrested on Turneffe Atoll Sunday morning. So far the men have told Belizean authorities that they left Cuba 19 days ago enroute to Honduras. It seems they ran out of food and docked on Turneffe Atoll Saturday night apparently on a search for food and supplies. Authorities were alerted and the men were arrested the next morning. The men are tonight in lockdown at the Queen Street station and their future is uncertain. The men were in a small skiff and the only thing found on them were ID cards. The men told police their ultimate destination was the United States which implicitly encourages boat people by granting them asylum, while refusing others.

Tags Cuba Belize Turneffe Atoll Queen Street Station