The boat that carried the 27 suspected Cuban nationals ashore Sunday night was picked up by the Coast Guard early this morning.

If everything went as planned, equipment borrowed from a local towing company and a 41 to 47-foot motor life boat would have carried the boat to a safe place, which in this case was probably the Fort Myers Coast Guard station, said Petty Officer Robert Simpson.

After that, the Coast Guard will investigate whether the boat was stolen or if it belonged to the migrants.

“Ultimately, the vessel could be destroyed or it could be auctioned off,” Simpson said.

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