Immigrants Intercepted in Guatemala

A boat carrying more than 100 Chinese immigrants was captured Wednesday as its human cargo was being unloaded on Guatemala’s Pacific coast, a government official said.

Interior Minister Arnoldo Ortiz said some of the Chinese were seized after they were taken in small boats to an area near the coastal town of Puerto Quetzal, but others were found aboard the ship.

“We will study what to do with them,” Ortiz told reporters here. He said it was likely that the Chinese were trying to immigrate illegally to the United States.

The boat had turned back from Mexican waters after that country detained and deported three boatloads of Chinese people 10 days ago, naval sources said.

Guatemala is the northernmost country in Central America and borders Mexico.