U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations crews intercepted three smuggling vessels off the coast of Southern California in recent days, apprehending a total of 60 people, according to an April 24 announcement. Some of those taken into custody have criminal histories for offenses such as failure to yield, driving under the influence, felony hit-and-run, making false police reports, drug possession, active warrants for resisting arrest, trespassing, burglary-related crimes, receiving stolen property, drug trafficking, aggravated assault with a weapon, and domestic violence.
The agency said these interdictions are part of ongoing efforts to address maritime smuggling along the Southern California coastline. The operations involved coordination between AMO aircrews and marine units from San Diego and Long Beach as well as support from U.S. Coast Guard cutters.
On April 17, an AMO aircrew detected a vessel south of the maritime boundary line. San Diego Marine Unit crews responded and stopped the boat near San Clemente Island around 2 p.m., apprehending thirteen people on board—seven men, five women and one juvenile female—who were transported to Ballast Point Naval Base for processing by U.S. Border Patrol.
A day later on April 18 another vessel was detected about eighty nautical miles southwest of Point Loma. With assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Florence Finch near San Nicolas Island twenty-nine Mexican nationals were intercepted; they were taken to Newport Harbor before being turned over to Border Patrol agents.
On April 21 the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Terrel Horne intercepted a third boat—a cuddy cabin first detected off Ensenada—apprehending eighteen Mexican nationals who were then processed by Border Patrol authorities.
“These interdictions show the great lengths dangerous criminals will go to avoid apprehension including taking to the open ocean in unsafe overcrowded vessels,” said Air and Marine Operations Southwest Region Executive Director Hunter Robinson. “Their desperation puts lives at risk. Our crews are dedicated to stopping these dangerous individuals far from shore to keep our communities safe.”
CBP described itself as America’s frontline law enforcement organization with more than sixty-seven thousand personnel protecting land borders as well as airspace and coastal waters.
