Cuban Stowaway Found On Flight From Havana To Miami

MIAMI, FL — A Cuban stowaway was discovered early Friday in the belly of an aircraft that landed at Miami International Airport from Havana, according to a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

"CBP received reports of a possible stowaway shortly after midnight after a ramp agent encountered the man while offloading baggage," the agency's Keith E. Smith told Patch.

The 26-year-old Cuban man was denied entry into the United States and processed as a stowaway under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.

"CBP officers remain vigilant to arrest persons trying to elude detection in violation of federal law," added Smith. "CBP's mission is to facilitate travel while maintaining the highest standards of security for those who live here and for those who come to visit."

On a typical day in 2018, CBP officers processed more than one million travelers arriving at airports, seaports and border crossings in the United States, according to the agency.