CBP fires on smuggling boat off San Diego, disables engine
CBP agents stop 2 human smuggling boats attempting early-morning border crossings
Customs and Border Protection agents shot and disabled the engine on one boat as it fled toward Coronado; agents detained 18 people on board the two boats
By ALEX RIGGINS
MAY 7, 2020 5:44 PM
SAN DIEGO — U. S. Customs and Border Protection agents shot out the engine of a suspected smuggling boat early Thursday, stopping it just a quarter-mile from a Coronado beach, authorities said.
https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/d...ay-7-2020.jpeg[Customs and Border Protection agents discovered suspected unauthorized immigrants on board a 25-foot panga early Thursday morning.
(Courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
The boat, carrying eight suspected unauthorized immigrants, was the second alleged smuggling vessel agents intercepted Thursday morning off the shores of San Diego County, according to Customs and Border Protection officials. Another boat discovered about eight miles west of Point Loma had 10 suspected unauthorized immigrants on board.
CBP agents patrolling the ocean by plane first spotted the boat carrying 10 people as it crossed from Mexican waters into U.S. territorial waters, authorities said. The plane tracked the vessel until agents in a boat stopped it off Point Loma.
According to CBP officials, the 10 people on board were all Mexican citizens who were unauthorized to cross into the U.S. The group was made up of seven men, two women and a 17-year-old boy.
https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/d...ay-7-2020.jpeg[Customs and Border Protection agents discovered suspected unauthorized immigrants on board a 17-foot pleasure craft early Thursday morning.
(Courtesy of United States Customs and Border Protection)
Shortly after agents intercepted that boat, the team in the plane spotted the second boat crossing into U.S. waters, officials said. This time, when agents on a boat attempted to stop the vessel, it continued toward the coastline.
That’s when agents aboard the Customs and Border Protection vessel fired at the boat’s engine, disabling it, officials said. Agents found six men and two women, all Mexican citizens suspected of entering U.S. waters without authorization.
CBP agents turned over all 18 people to Border Patrol agents for processing, and all were immediately expelled back to Mexico, officials said.
CBP agents seized both of the suspected smuggling vessels, one a 25-foot panga, the other a 17-foot open-hull pleasure craft.
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...rder-crossings
