12 arrested in human smuggling attempt off coast of Point Loma

The boat was spotted 28 nautical miles from shore.

By LYNDSAY WINKLEY
]JULY 1, 2019 4:51 PM

POINT LOMA — Twelve people were arrested on suspicion of trying to enter the U.S. illegally after the U.S. Coast Guard found the group’s boat off the coast of Point Loma early Monday.

The crew of a Coast Guard cutter located the pleasure craft dead in the water 28 nautical miles from the coast about 2:30 p.m., federal officials said.

Crew members spotted one person on the boat, but found 11 more people hiding inside a cabin after they boarded, officials said. The group was taken to shore where they were arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents.

Federal officials said the group was comprised of eight Mexican nationals — seven men and one woman — between the ages of 21 and 58 years old, two Guatemalan national men, ages 23 and 37, and two Colombian national females, ages 30 and 42.

Two of the suspects face federal human smuggling charges, officials said. The vessel was seized.

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