7 Indicted in Cuban Smuggling Ring

Seven Cuban Americans were indicted for allegedly organizing attempts to smuggle Cubans by boat into the United States, and two face charges for a passenger’s death in a failed crossing, prosecutors said.

The failed crossing was one of five smuggling attempts organized by a profit-driven ring that carried 99 people to the Florida Keys in the last two years, prosecutors said.

The indictment unsealed in Miami is the biggest federal crackdown on smugglers who charge thousands of dollars per person to illegally bring Cubans to South Florida, prosecutors said.

All the defendants are Miami residents. Six had been arrested.