Chinese Stowaways in Good Condition

The 23 Chinese stowaways found at the Port of Long Beach on Monday hiding in rail car-size containers were in “generally pretty good condition,” a U.S. immigration spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Two were treated for injuries--including rope burn and a broken ankle--sustained shortly before the group was discovered, said Sharon Gavin of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. They were transported to the INS’ Terminal Island processing center, she said.

Since February 1999, there have been 19 cases of stowaways found smuggled on containers in cargo ships in California, Washington and Vancouver, Gavin said.