A boat with 44 people on board – 29 men and 15 women – was intercepted early Wednesday morning by the Dominican Navy and the US Coast Guard while trying to reach Puerto Rico illegally. Navy reports indicate that the boat left the DR from Rio Boba in Nagua and that the journey was organized by Manuel de Jesus Liriano de la Cruz (aka Patola), and Persio de la Cruz Acosta. Both were arrested. The Navy also reported that in the last 45 days, 48 boats have been detected trying to cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico. Eighteen trip organizers and boat captains have been indicted over the same period.