News In Brief

Cuban prisoners shifted from Florida air base

All 31 Cuban prisoners being held at a prison camp on Eglin Air Force Base have been transferred to a higher-security prison after eight Cubans escaped the facility. The Cubans, who came to Florida during the 1980 Mariel boatlift, were transferred Saturday to the Tallahassee Federal Correctional Institution.

Paul Lefebvre, superintendent of the Eglin prison camp, speculated that last week's escapes were in response to reported negotiations between Cuban Premier Fidel Castro and the Reagan administration for the possible exchange of prisoners