Two men arrested for unlawful conveyance of fuel

Two Tampa, Florida men were arrested Saturday after approximately 170 gallons of gasoline as well as items consistent with smuggling operations were found in a boat they were operating.

Giovanny Vigoa, 44, and Juan Miguel Rubio, 42, were both charged with illegally transporting gasoline.

The U.S. Coast Guard requested assistance from the Sheriff’s Office with a vessel inspection on the gulfside of Marathon about three-quarters of a mile off 33rd Street at approximately 12:21 p.m. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations agents and U.S. Border Patrol agents were also on scene.

There were two men on the 1995 Wellcraft cabin vessel.

Multiple containers of gasoline were found in the cabin.

The men were also in possession of a satellite phone, a fuel transfer pump, a GPS that was thrown overboard, large amounts of bottled water, a large array of apples and other produce as well as two small fishing rods that were non-typical for saltwater fishing. No tackle or bait was found onboard.

Both men were taken to jail.

Whatever federal charges may or may not be pending would be up to federal authorities.

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