The Dominican Navy has announced that it picked up 20 Haitian nationals near Playa Rancho Caso, in Uvero Alto, Higuey, and 19 Dominicans off the coast of Bayahibe as they attempted to travel to Puerto Rico in small boats. The Haitians were caught in an operation coordinated by the Naval Intelligence Division as they were travelling in a small bus on their way to get on board a boat that had been built in secret for the trip to Puerto Rico. In a similar operation, off the coast of Bayahibe, the Navy picked up 19 persons aboard a small craft named “La Chapa” that was powered by a 40 horse outboard, as they headed for Puerto Rico. The authorities found 5 gasoline tanks on board the boat. All of the persons detained were taken to the Naval Intelligence Headquarters in Santo Domingo for investigation.