The US Coast Guard has returned a group of 95 people to the DR after they were caught trying to reach Puerto Rico in a fragile boat. They included 25 women, three of whom are Haitian. The DR liaison officer with the US Coast Guard sea and air operations, Pedro Jimenez, said that patrolling increases during November, December and January as there is a greater number of people trying to make it across the Mona Passage by boat. The 95 were brought on board the “Diligence” tender ship which arrived at 9:00 am to Don Diego Port on Avenida del Puerto in Santo Domingo. These illegal trips are also used to take drugs into Puerto Rico, according to Jimenez.