quote: MIAMI (June 8) - A vintage blue taxicab converted into a seagoing vessel and carrying several Cuban immigrants was intercepted Tuesday off Key West by the Coast Guard, a television station reported.
Footage from NBC-6 in Miami showed Coast Guard officers boarding the blue vehicle, which had been modified with a boat prow in front and appeared to have at least four immigrants aboard.
Next time I visit, I'll have to shake that guy's hand. What an idea.
Posts: 1401 | Registered: Jun 2004
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quote: In 2003, immigrants tried to cross the Florida Straits aboard a green 1951 Chevrolet pickup, which a man named Luis Grass had converted into a boat. They were intercepted and sent back to Cuba. The Coast Guard then sunk the craft.
In 2004 Grass made a second attempt to get to the United States illegally - this time aboard a Buick sedan powering another homemade barge.
Grass and his family had more success sticking to land: on March 12 they entered the U.S. though the Texas-Mexico border and were allowed to stay.
I remember this previous incident they talk about -- I was SO upset that they suck the 1951 Chevy -- it was so cool. I would have loved to have it.
And the Grass family incident just points out that if you really want to get into the U.S. - just come through Mexico!
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I knew Cuban mechanics were good at improvising because of the embargo, but this is the first I've read about them turning cars into boats. Low riders meet Transformers.
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