Posted on 03/29/2004 7:49:45 PM PST by rogueleader
MEXICO CITY - Mexico ordered six rescued cave explorers and seven colleagues expelled Monday after officials determined their expedition had violated their tourist visas.
The 13 Britons will be placed aboard a flight to London and barred from re-entering Mexico for two years, because they failed to reveal the true purpose of their visit, said Armando Salinas, Mexico's assistant Interior Secretary.
While stating they were here as tourists, they "carried out activities of exploration, scientific study and training," Salinas said.
Under armed guard, the Britons were transported to Mexico City's International Airport aboard an immigration police bus with bars across the windows.
Officials said the British exploration team - six explorers and seven surface members - violated two counts of immigration law by failing to reveal the nature of their exploration in a cave near Cuetzalan, a town in central Puebla state about 110 miles southeast of Mexico City.
They had faced the possibility of maximum penalties of up to 18 months in prison and fines of up to $270.
The team drew international attention when its planned three-day underground expedition turned into eight days of entrapment as flood waters fed by heavy rain blocked the entrance of the cave.
Late Thursday, British and Mexican divers rescued the six - four members of Britain's Combined Services, made up of the army, navy and air force - and two civilians.
During their entrapment, the team refused help from Mexican officials, instead waiting for a British rescue team.
President Vicente Fox raised questions about the activities of the team, which included British military members. Some members of the Mexican press had speculated the explorers were searching for signs of uranium.
British authorities had denied allegations that the men were part of any unauthorized military or scientific expedition. They said that such trips composed of caving enthusiats and have been going on for 20 years without any problems.
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