Frequency of stowaway incidents in the Dominican Republic and the larger Caribbean region

Shipping industry alerts and local correspondents have noted periodic increases in stowaway activity on vessels leaving or transiting near the Dominican Republic on their way to Puerto Rico, particularly on bulk cargo carriers.

These spikes appear linked to evolving social and economic conditions, so they aren’t a constant but occur in waves rather than on specific fixed schedules. 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Coast Guard routinely report multiple individual incidents where stowaways are found on arriving barges or other vessels.

For example:

• In 2023, one report noted 6 Dominican stowaways found on a single barge arriving in Puerto Rico. 

• Earlier the same year, 3 stowaways jumped into the water near Guayanilla after arriving from a vessel. 

• Another case in early 2025 involved 5 attempted stowaways on a barge from the U.S. that were arrested in San Juan. 

  
  

These are just the ones reported in public press releases, meaning these kinds of cases happen multiple times throughout the year rather than being rare one-off events.

Coast Guard data (not strictly “stowaways on cargo ships” but related maritime migration) shows dozens of interdictions in the Mona Passage and nearby waters involving hundreds to thousands of Dominican migrants on makeshift boats or barges attempting to reach Puerto Rico or U.S. territory within a year. 

Practical implications

For maritime professionals

Stowaway incidents in this region are not singular rare events; they appear periodically and are documented frequently enough that shipping insurers and P&I Clubs issue specific alerts. 

For official law enforcement

Reports from CBP/USCG show multiple seizures and arrests per year linked to stowaway boarding attempts. 

For broader migration context

Many of these maritime movements are tied into wider irregular migration flows between the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the U.S., not isolated to cargo vessels alone. 

Official Incident Reports (U.S. Government)

Primary sources:

1. CBP arrested five stowaways found inside a barge arriving in San Juan (2025) — showing multiple individuals traveling illegally as stowaways. CBPhttps://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/cbp-arrest-5-previously-removed-aliens-found-stowaways-inside-barge

2. CBP apprehended three stowaways who jumped from a barge arriving in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico (2023) — individuals claimed to be from the Dominican Republic. CBPhttps://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/cbp-apprehends-3-stowaways-jumped-barge-arriving-guayanilla-puerto

3. Six stowaways arrested on a barge arriving in San Juan (2023) — also confirming multiple cases from one vessel. CBPhttps://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/cbp-officers-find-and-arrest-six-stowaways-arriving-barge-arriving-san

4. CBP & U.S. Coast Guard apprehended 18 stowaway migrants on a barge (2023) — one of the larger group events documented. CBPhttps://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/cbp-coast-guard-apprehend-18-stowaway-migrants-barge-arriving-san-juan

5. Coast Guard & CBP interdicted 12 stowaway migrants aboard a barge near San Juan (2023) — shows repeated interdiction events. US Coast Guard Newshttps://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3597768/coast-guard-cbp-units-apprehend-12-stowaway-migrants-during-tug-and-barge-transit-into-san-juan-harbor