Thread: Border Patrol stops Salton Sea boat smuggling attempt

Border Patrol stops Salton Sea boat smuggling attempt

Photo provided by U.S. Border Patrol (July 27, 2012)

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• Photo provided by U.S. Border Patrol

By CHELCEY ADAMI Staff Writer 6:10 p.m. PDT, July 27, 2012

MECCA — A man tried to smuggle 10 people farther into the United States by using an inflatable boat to cross the Salton Sea and bypass checkpoints Thursday morning, according to the Border Patrol.

Around 4 a.m. El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents on patrol saw a large inflatable boat with passengers headed north on the Salton Sea.

The man operating the boat docked it along the shore near Mecca and moments later, a smuggler driving a Ford F-150 pickup transported the boat’s 10 passengers.

As he tried to drive away, agents stopped the pickup and determined that the passengers were in the country illegally. Eight of the passengers are from Mexico and two from El Salvador.

The pickup driver, a 45-year-old male lawfully admitted, permanent resident, was arrested on suspicion of undocumented immigrant smuggling. Agents also arrested the man who was driving the boat, a 45-year-old man illegally in the country, also on suspicion of smuggling.

The dozen involved are all in Border Patrol custody pending further investigation, and the boat and pickup were seized.

Border Patrol Agent Armando Garcia said while the use of boats for human smuggling attempts is common in the San Diego area, it was the first time he could recall of something like this happening in this area.

Imperial Valley residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the Border Community Threat Hotline at 1-800-901-2003.

Staff Writer Chelcey Adami can be reached at 760-337-3452 or cadami@ivpressonline.com

Border Patrol stops Salton Sea boat smuggling attempt - ivpressonline.com

I'm this this PC crap sounds so stupid!

undocumented immigrant smuggling