U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Ramey Sector successfully foiled a maritime smuggling attempt near Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, as reported by Chief Patrol Agent Desi D. Deleon in a social media post. The Ramey Sector oversees 730-shore border miles across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In a detailed account of the incident, Deleon stated, "On 01/01/2024, Ramey Sector #USBP, CBP #AMO, PRPD #FURA, and #Stonegarden partners joined forces to respond to a maritime smuggling event near Las Ruinas in Aguadilla, PR. Their coordinated efforts resulted in the successful arrest of 36 migrants from the Dominican Republic."

This development follows another incident where marine agents of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (AMO) intercepted 63 migrants from the Dominican Republic and Haiti on board a Yola vessel near Southwestern Puerto Rico. According to a news release by Customs and Border Protection, this incident occurred on Dec. 1 when Puerto Rico Police Department Fuerzas Unidas de Rapida Accion and AMO officials spotted the migrant-filled vessel navigating east towards the southwestern coast of Puerto Rico.

Creighton Skeen, Director of Air and Marine Operations in the Caribbean, underscored the dangers associated with such voyages: "A voyage on a 'yola' is dangerous when boarding a rustic wooden boat, which takes on water during the journey," he said. "These unseaworthy vessels are only fitted with a single engine; they usually try to cross the sea overloaded and without life vests."

DeLeon further highlighted the risks involved for those attempting illegal entry into the United States: "People who venture to enter the United States illegally not only expose themselves to being victims of criminal organizations that transport them and the inherent danger of the trip but also expose themselves to the inconveniences of formal administrative or criminal prosecution if they are arrested by Border Patrol agents," he said.