The Department of Homeland Security announced on Mar. 18 that a joint operation involving U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Homeland Security Investigations led to the arrest of 15 individuals attempting to enter the United States illegally by sea near Miami.
The incident underscores ongoing efforts by federal agencies to prevent human smuggling operations along maritime borders. Such operations are considered dangerous and put lives at risk, according to officials.
According to the department, the interdiction took place on March 11 at approximately 11:45 p.m. Eastern Standard Time when a Customs and Border Protection crew stopped a vessel operating without lights in an apparent attempt to avoid detection. Officers found one adult male from the Bahamas piloting the boat, with fourteen additional passengers onboard: four Dominican male adults, three Ecuadorian male adults, one Haitian male adult, one Haitian male minor, and five Haitian adult females.
A nearby Lauderdale Marine Unit assisted in securing the scene and transporting all occupants to the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter William Flores for processing. The Coast Guard later returned eleven of those apprehended to their country of origin, the Bahamas.
Four individuals were arrested by Homeland Security Investigations and now face charges related to human smuggling and illegal re-entry into the United States.
"Human smuggling operations at sea put lives at serious risk. This mission highlights the success that DHS’s hard-working law enforcement officers can achieve when working jointly with other agencies and state and local government officials," said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. "We are thankful to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, our U.S. Coast Guard Service members, and Homeland Security Investigations who protect this nation’s maritime borders and help dismantle criminal organizations that try to smuggle illegal aliens into the country."
