U.S. authorities traveled to Cuba late Tuesday night and picked up the Tampa family that has been the subject of an Amber Alert for almost a week. The plane arrived back in the U.S. after 1 a.m. Wednesday.



Cuba turned over to the U.S. Joshua Hakken, his wife Sharyn and their two young boys Tuesday after the family was spotted alongside their boat, Salty, docked at Havana's Hemingway Marina.

An Amber Alert was issued April 3 for 4-year-old Cole Hakken and 2-year-old Chase Hakken after authorities say their father, 35-year-old Joshua Hakken, entered his mother-in-law's house in north Tampa, tied her up and left with the children last Wednesday. The children's mother, 34-year-old Sharyn Hakken, was with them.

At a press conference late Tuesday night, Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee said the boys are "doing well." He said they will be returned to their grandparents. Also in custody: the family dog.

“He’s being returned with the children; a terrier of some type," said Sheriff Gee.



The boys' grandfather spoke at the press conference, saying they had the opportunity to speak to the boys before they left Cuba.



"Right now we’re just looking forward to getting them in our arms and hugging them and getting them home where they’ll be safe again," said Bob Hauser, who thanked all the U.S. agencies involved in the case as well as the Cuban government. He also asked for privacy.



FBI spokesperson David Couvertier said the U.S. State Dept. recieved information the family was in Cuba. He said they are still investigating how long the family was in the country.



Sheriff Gee said the parents will be booked into the Hillsborough County Jail on numerous charges.

Gee said there is a federal charge for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Joshua Hakken also faces the following state charges: kidnapping, interference with child custody, child neglect, false imprisonment, burglary, including a battery and grand theft auto. Sharyn Hakken faces kidnapping, interference with child custody, and child neglect charges.



Late last week, officials discovered that Joshua Hakken recently purchased a sailboat and at least one witness remembered seeing the family sail out of John's Pass towards the Gulf of Mexico.



Cuba/US history



Cuba has no international or bilateral treaties in place with the U.S. dealing with parental-child abduction.



Also, the state department says Cuba does not participate in the Hague Convention, which is an agreement between some 70 countries to return U.S. children that have been abducted.



And, Cuba does not recognize U.S. court orders. That means even though the U.S. took child custody away from the Hakkens, in Cuba officials eyes, Joshua and Sharyn Hakken are still the boys' parents.



Fernandez said fugitives across the country know this and travel to the same marina for refuge. Something, investigators say, Joshua Hakken could be banking on as U.S. agents try their best to get the family back to Florida.

"There is no upside for Cuba,'' said Jaime Suchlicki, a Cuba expert at the University of Miami.



The incident recalls the child custody case that set the two Cold War foes feuding in 1999. That year, 5-year-old Elian Gonzalez was found clinging to an inner tube off Florida after his mothers and others drowned while fleeing Cuba toward American soil. The boy was taken to Miami to live with relatives, but his father in Cuba demanded the boy be sent back.



U.S. courts ultimately ruled Gonzalez should be sent back, though his Miami relatives refused to return him. In April 2000, federal agents raided the family's home and he was returned to Cuba soon after.

Cuban authorities had no immediate comment on the current case.





Father purchased sailboat



On Friday, authorities said they've obtained information that Joshua Hakken recently purchased a sailboat.



At least one witness said the 25-foot boat was spotted going underneath the John’s Pass Bridge last week.



The sheriff's office says Hakken has sailed before.



"I don't want to say extensive, but we do know he has some sailing training and some sailing experience, so he is capable of operating that boat,” said Det. McKinnon.



The boat is described as a 1972 Morgan 25M (25 foot) sailboat, blue bimini top, white mainsail, boat deck and cabin are white, hull is blue with “Salty” and a paw print in white on both sides with a white stripe near water line, bearing Flo.



More details on the children



Chase Hakken is 3 feet tall, weighs 33 pounds, has brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing pajamas. Cole Hakken is 3 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 44 pounds, has brown hair and brown eyes. He was also last seen wearing pajamas.



Deputies spent Wednesday afternoon and evening at the parents' home, searching for any clues that might indicate where they would go. Detectives said the parents should be considered armed and dangerous.



Anyone with any information is asked to call 911 or to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at (813) 247-8200.



SUV located



On Thursday evening, officials located the vehicle they believe the boys were traveling in with their parents. The 2006 GMC pickup truck belonging to the family was located in the John's Pass Parking Garage located at 12901 Gulf Blvd in Madeira Beach.



Officials said the vehicle was located after receiving a tip.



The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, which set up a command post at its Falkenburg Road office to receive calls and tips regarding the case, said it is following numerous leads. The Amber Alert has been modified to include only states that border along the Gulf of Mexico.



Timeline of events in the case

April 9 - CNN confirms Tampa family that has been the subject of an Amber Alert for almost a week is in Cuba.

April 8 - Search for missing family enters Day 6. Deputies receive dozens of tips over the weekend about potential sightings on the water but none pan out.

April 7 - Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, FWC and other agencies, including the FBI, continue to aid in the search for the family.

April 6 - The Amber Alert issued for the boys modified to include only states that border along the Gulf of Mexico.

April 6 - Florida Fish and Wildlife officers begin extensive search offshore from Pensacola to the Florida Keys.

April 5 - At least one witness said the 25-foot boat was spotted going underneath the John’s Pass Bridge.

April 5 - Detectives release information that Joshua Hakken had recently bought a sailboat. Boat is described as a 1972 Morgan 25M (25 foot) sailboat, blue bimini top, white mainsail, boat deck and cabin are white, hull is blue with “Salty” and a paw print in white on both sides with a white stripe near water line, bearing Flo.

April 4 - Official locate the vehicle they believe the boys were traveling in with their parents. The 2006 GMC pickup truck belonging to the family was located in the John's Pass Parking Garage located at 12901 Gulf Blvd in Madeira Beach.

April 3 - An Amber Alert is issued for the boys at 1:30 p.m.

April 3 (morning) - Police say Joshua Michael Hakken, 35, father of Cole Hakken, 4, and Chase Hakken, 2, kidnapped the boys from theor grandmothers home in north Tampa. Officials say the Joshua Hakken tied up his mother-in-law before taking the boys.



Previous attempt to take the children, officials say



According to authorities, Hakken was previously involved in an attempted armed abduction of their children in Louisiana.



Officials said they have so far been able to determine that Joshua Hakken was arrested in a hotel on multiple drug charges in St. Tammany Parrish, Louisiana, where he had just attended some type of anti-government rally.



Slidell police say were called to the hotel in June in reference to a disturbance involving Mr. and Mrs. Hakken. Police say when they arrived the parents were acting in a bizarre manner that alarmed officers.



Police say they were talking about “completing their ultimate journey” and were traveling across the country to “take a journey to the Armageddon.” Police say both of the children were present in the hotel at the time.



Police say based on the parents’ behavior and the fact narcotics and weapons were inside the hotel room, officers called the Office of Child Services, who determined the children were in danger and needed to be taken into custody and temporarily placed in a foster home.



"This is not really about anti-government at this point," said David Couvertier, FBI. "Individual beliefs, people in our country should believe in whatever you want to believe in. It's the manner in which the kids have been taken is what concerns law enforcement and the reason we've taken the steps we have taken."



Joshua Hakken was placed under arrest and charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and the use of a controlled and dangerous substance in the presence of minors. Officers also took custody of the guns.



Two weeks later, police say they were notified Joshua Hakken had shown up at the foster family home with a firearm demanding the return of his children. The foster parents called 911 and police say Hakken fled without his children.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.