GALLERY: U.S. Coast Guard returns 99 Haitians after intercepting overloaded boat

MIAMI, Fla. (CBS12) — Coast Guard crews returned 99 undocumented Haitians Tuesday after intercepting their boat 35 miles off the coast of Haiti.

According to a United States Coast Guard's (USCG) news release, a Customs and Border Patrol agent alerted watchstanders on Thursday that a 35-foot overloaded boat was heading north towards Turks and Caicos.

"Attempting illegal migration in overloaded, unsafe vessels with no safety equipment is extremely dangerous and puts you and your loved one's lives at risk," said Lt. Cmdr. Brent Pearson, Coast Guard liaison officer to U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince. "Don't take to the sea just to be sent back."

See also: 'Beautiful relationship I ruined': Call discloses teacher's relationship with student

Once on board the Coast Guard cutter, officials say the undocumented Haitians are processed, identified, and provided food, water, and basic medical attention before returning to their country of origin.

Since October 1, USCG crews say they have returned a total of 412 undocumented Haitians to Haiti, compared to 857 the previous year.

Find more ways to stay up to date with your latest local news. Sign up for our newsletter to get the day's top headlines delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the biggest stories and can't miss video.