A boat captain arrested for attempting to smuggle five migrants from Popotla, Mexico, to San Diego is speaking out about the deadly risks of illegal sea crossings.
In a video released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the captain, who was later arrested by the CBP Maritime Unit in San Diego, described how smugglers, known as “polleros,” routinely prioritize money over safety, often abandoning migrants in life-threatening conditions.
Despite earning thousands of dollars for the smuggling attempt, he was ultimately taken into custody.
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Colombian Woman Shares Harrowing Account
In a separate testimony, a Colombian woman recounted her own perilous journey attempting to cross the border illegally alongside her two young grandchildren.
She described how the presence of the children only heightened the danger of the voyage.
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CBP officials point to such accounts as stark reminders that criminal organizations have no regard for migrant safety, and that the perils of maritime smuggling are real and often deadly.
Recent Interceptions Off U.S. Coasts
Authorities reported that last week, in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard, they intercepted 79 people attempting to enter the country by sea in the southwestern and southeastern districts of the United States.
Notable operations included the interception of a panga boat near San Nicolas Island, the stop of a sailboat in Mission Bay, and the rescue of 22 individuals off the coast of Aguadilla.
CBP emphasized that these coordinated operations are part of ongoing efforts to secure U.S. maritime borders, with surveillance covering more than 31,000 miles of coastal waterways.
