Stowaways Found in Ship Container

Fifteen stowaways from the Dominican Republic had to be extracted from a container on a cargo ship that docked at Miami, U.S. immigration officials said Friday.

Rescue workers Thursday cut a hole through the top of the container because its doors were blocked by other cargo, Immigration and Naturalization Service spokesman Lemar Wooley said. “The container was opened like a sardine can,” he said.

Seven of the stowaways were taken to a hospital but were later returned to the ship, the Seaboard Voyager, which left Miami Friday with 12 of the stowaways back on board. Under maritime law they are the ship’s responsibility.