U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) intercepted three vessels off the Southern California coast in April, leading to the detention of 60 people.
The first incident took place on April 17, when an AMO air crew spotted a 24-foot vessel just south of the maritime border near San Clemente Island. Thirteen people were on board: seven men, five women, and a minor.
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Agents transported the group and the boat to Ballast Point Naval Base for processing by the Border Patrol.
The very next day, April 18, agents intercepted a panga about 80 nautical miles southwest of Point Loma.
Working with the U.S. Coast Guard Florence Finch, the AMO’s Long Beach Marine Unit captured the vessel near San Nicolas Island.
On board were 29 Mexican citizens, whom the Coast Guard took to the port of Newport and turned over to the Border Patrol.
Then on April 21, guided by an AMO air crew, the Coast Guard Terrel Horne stopped a 25-foot cabin cruiser that had been spotted the day before off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico.
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The Coast Guard detained the 18 Mexican citizens on board and handed both the group and the vessel over to authorities.
According to CBP, some of those detained have criminal records, including past convictions for driving under the influence, hit-and-run resulting in death, drug possession, robbery, drug trafficking, assault with a deadly weapon, and domestic violence.
“These interceptions show how far dangerous criminals will go to avoid capture even venturing into the open sea on overloaded boats,” said Hunter Robinson, Executive Director of Air and Marine Operations for the Southwest Region.
