The Listin Diario reports that 15,000 Dominicans have died when attempting to make it to Puerto Rico by boat. The news report says there has been a decline in the number of boat trips as of 1996, when the Fernández government instituted new controls. 75% of the deaths occurred from 1980 to 1990. The report says that an estimated 168,000 travelers have purchased the one way tickets on the illegal boat trips. Of these an estimated 60% were arrested, 33% made it, and 10% drowned. The Dominican Navy statistics show that from 1998-2000, there were 106 deaths attributed to the boat crossings, 443 persons were arrested, 17 boats confiscated, 38 trips frustrated, 153 stowaways arrested, 21 boats captured, 22 captains arrested. Most Dominicans still have the idea that the "grass is greener on the other side", and fall easy prey to illusion vendors that sell fares for about RD$15,000, almost US$1,000, making it a very lucrative business for promoters.
