At 14.10 hours on 16 June 1942 the Nueva Altagracia was stopped by gunfire from U-161 and was sunk by scuttling charges, after the crew, their lifeboat, fresh fruits and chickens were taken aboard. The Germans intended to release the survivors closer to the coast, but the next day they encountered another Dominician sailing ship, the Comercio. More fruits were taken aboard the U-boat and the remaining cargo of fruits and maize was thrown overboard. The vessel was then released together with the crew of the other sailing ship, arriving in Curaçao on 17 June.