General News of Wednesday, 4 June 2003

Source: Savannah Morning News

Stowaways found at Savannah port

Three stowaways from Africa were found Monday hiding aboard the container ship Merkur at the Georgia Ports Authority in Savannah, a U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman said. They had boarded the ship on May 21 in Ghana, officials said.

The men were in a locker-type area and had food, clothes and makeshift hammocks. They were examined by medical personnel and found to be in reasonably good health.

They men are in custody of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Atlanta. Proceedings are expected to begin to deport them, officials said.