Eleven persons, including two women and a minor, were detected within a container at Haina Port on 19 March. The container was opened after minor John Kelly Encarnación cried out for help as he felt he could hardly breathe. The container belonged to the Santo Domingo Action Park, and was part of several that are loaded with amusement park machines. Port, Migration and Navy authorities had also been alerted of the stowaways by a concerned sister of one of the illegal travelers. When the authorities opened the container, they found a television set, radios, and plastic refrigerators full of all sorts of food. One couple was traveling with their bed, toilet, refrigerator and large amount of gallons of water. The travelers knew they would have to remain some 20 days within the containers. The containers would be exported on board the "Estrella de Puerto Rico" barge that was expected to leave on 24 March. Thus, the group would have had to stay another six days on land.
