Written by
Susan Shroder
7:07 p.m., July 17, 2012
San Diego Union Tribune

Twenty-seven undocumented immigrants were taken into custody in two separate maritime smuggling incidents this week, federal officials said Tuesday.

The crew of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection boat, using night-vision equipment, spotted a small boat running without navigation lights about 1 a.m. Sunday about four miles west of Torrey Pines State Beach.

After a short pursuit, authorities found 21 people on the panga. All were Mexican citizens.

About 9:30 a.m. Thursday, harbor officials received a distress call from a disabled 20-foot pleasure boat that was taking on water near Point Loma.

The boat was towed to Shelter Island. All six people were citizens of Mexico. They were arrested and turned over to the Border Patrol.

Undocumented immigrants found on 2 boats | UTSanDiego.com