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Jail Possible If You Don't Stop Human Smugglers

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Jul 13, 2007 10:34 am US/Eastern

Jail Possible If You Don't Stop Human Smugglers

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MIAMI (CBS4) ― Six people were sentenced this week and three more were convicted for failing to stop go-fast boats for federal agents, which authorities said were used to smuggle humans into Florida.

In the most serious case, two boat captains led federal officials on a high-speed chase and then rammed the officials' boats. They were sentenced to more than four years in prison and fined more than 9-thousand dollars.

These convictions come in the wake of last year's law to combat human smuggling across the Florida Straits. It makes it a felony for captains to ignore orders from federal officials to stop a boat in U-S waters. Prosecutors say the law is a powerful weapon.

Still, migrants keep arriving. Last year, more than 7,000 Cubans were known to attempt the voyage. More than half made it.

(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

© MMIX, CBS Television Stations Inc. All Rights Reserved.