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Collier County Sheriff's Office

Jose Robaul-Banos

Two men have been arrested in connection with the smuggling of 14 Cubans on Marco Island in November 2005.

Collier County Sheriff's Office

Rolando Gonzalez.

Rolando Gonzalez, 32, Miami Gardens, and Jose Robaul-Banos, 35, 5336 17th Place S.W., Golden Gate, were arrested on charges of racketeering for their alleged involvement in the human smuggling, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Friday announcing the arrests.

The charge of racketeering comes from the two men working as part of an organization in order to commit the crime of human smuggling, the news release said.

Fourteen illegal Cuban nationals, ranging in age from 6 to 52, were discovered Nov. 25, 2005, on Marco Island’s South Beach saying they had made the journey aboard fishing boats.

Sheriff’s deputies located the truck and boat involved and initiated a traffic stop. With the assistance of the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Border Patrol, an investigation began.

Investigators received information that Gonzalez and Robaul-Banos were involved in the landing.

More arrests may be coming, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Sheriff’s officials say human smuggling is a growing problem in Collier. In recent weeks the agency has made at least a half dozen arrests and seized several boats believed to have been used for human smuggling.