The Associated Press

MIAMI -- Forty-five Cuban migrants were returned to the Caribbean island this week, including six who were apparently being smuggled to the United States, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The Coast Guard sent nine people to Bahia de Cabanas, Cuba, on Tuesday and 36 more on Monday, according to a news release. No information was available on the nine repatriations that took place Tuesday.

On April 8, 14 people were found on two separate rafts near the Florida Keys and taken to Coast Guard cutters.

Earlier that day, a 27-foot suspected migrant smuggling vessel was spotted near Key West and stopped with six migrants on board and two suspected smugglers.

The migrants were transferred to a cutter, while the accused smugglers were placed in custody of Customs and Border Protection agents. Five of the six migrants were repatriated and one was transferred to the U.S. Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay for further questioning.

On April 7, groups of eight and six migrants were found on two separate rafts near the Keys by the Coast Guard.

On April 6, a Coast Guard aircraft spotted a 12-foot rowboat with three people on board about approximately 35 miles south of Key West.

Under U.S. policy, Cubans who are found at sea are usually returned to Cuba, while those who reach land are generally allowed to stay and apply for residency after one year. Some Cubans found at sea who display a legitimate fear of persecution if returned are sent to Guantanamo Bay for more questioning.

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