Authorities have charged two Miami men with human trafficking after they were apprehended by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in mid-July near Islamorada. The pair was intercepted while traveling on a vessel headed for Cuba, according to a statement released on Tuesday.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office (MCSO), in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies and the State Attorney's Office, filed charges against Oscar Alfredo Bustamante Semeren, 29, and Alejandro Gauche Valdez, 35, for human trafficking. The USCG stopped their boat around 10:10 p.m. on July 15 in the Cotton Key Basin area, near mile marker 86.
According to the MCSO, the boat's GPS indicated an active route to Cuba, and Bustamante admitted that they were heading to the island to pick up Cuban nationals. Both men are currently imprisoned in Miami on charges related to firearms, assault, and vehicle theft, but arrest warrants for human trafficking have already been issued against them in Monroe County.
U.S. Attorney's Office Declines Prosecution
The U.S. Attorney's Office decided not to prosecute the suspects, but the Monroe County Sheriff's Office continued its investigation, working closely with the State Attorney's Office. Sheriff Rick Ramsay expressed his discontent with the U.S. Attorney's Office for not pursuing the case.
"We will maintain a tough stance against crime, even when the U.S. Attorney's Office fails to do its job. The unwillingness of the Prosecutor's Office to go after criminals involved in human trafficking is disheartening. These offenders continue to wreak havoc in our community and others," Ramsay emphasized.
Connections to Venezuelan Criminal Network
The investigation further revealed that Bustamante has ties to the violent Venezuelan gang known as the "Tren de Aragua." This connection adds another layer of complexity to the case, highlighting the international dimensions of the criminal activities involved.