Floating Bomb Cache, Cuba Raiders Seized
By JACK OSWALD
Reporter of the Miami News
U.S. Customs agents today were inventorying a large quantity of arms and ammunition seized when they broke up a four-boat anti-Castro "expeditionary force" headed for Cuba.
Twenty-one members of Commando L, including their leader, Santiago Alvarez Sr., and an American woman, identified as Georgette Chapell, a freelance writer-photographer, were aboard the boats, which were seized last night.
They were questioned and released.
A quantity of home-made bombs, described as "too hot to keep around" was turned over immediately to the Metro bomb disposal unit and set off early this morning in a remote Everglades area northwest of Hialeah.
Boats belonging to Customs, the Coast Guard and the Metro police took part in the interception. Three of the Cuban craft were seized about a mile off Baker's Haulover around 8 p.m. The fourth was still in the Miami River when taken.
B.F. Murphy, customs agent in charge of the Miami office, said the boats and equipment were seized for violation of the U.S. Neutrality Act.
The Cuban boats were: the Marta Maria, 32-foot cabin cruiser, with 12 men aboard; the Santa Elena, a 26-foot fishing boat, carrying arms and ammunition; a 20-foot, twin outboard cruiser, Florida registry No. 7140-B, with arms and ammunition.
The fourth boat, the Siliva, a 50-footer carrying supplies was picked up in the Miami River.
The commandos surrendered meekly but unhappily, Murphy said. Many of them were wearing fatigue uniforms. Although sidearms were aboard the boats, the men were not carrying them.
for attacking the Soviet freighter, Baku, in Caibarien Harbor, Cuba, back in March, after which President Kennedy called for strict enforcement of the Neutrality Act.
On Sept. 21, Customs agents and Metro police raided the Hialeah headquarters of Commandos L, at 1261 SE 8th Ct. They found the CBS house and adjoining garage crammed with homemade bombs and explosives, which they seized.
A woman identified at that time as Georgette Meyer, 44, was in the house, and was described as a member of Commandos L and a freelance writer-photographer.