Thread: Lawmakers Request Briefing on Panga Boat Smuggling

01/02/2013
By Laura Spadanuta
securitymanagement.com



Panga fishing boat smuggling is on the rise off the coast of California and recent events have spurred lawmakers to request a meeting with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

According to the Malibu Times, Congressman Henry Waxman and other members of California's Congressional delegation wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano "to express concern about increased panga boat smuggling activity along the Southern California coast and request a briefing on how the federal government is improving coastal security."

The Los Angeles Times reports that the panga boats have become popular among drug and human smugglers. Panga boats are light and inexpensive, so they can be abandoned after the operation. The Malibu Times states that maritime smuggling off Southern California has increased since 2008:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recorded 210 incidents in 2012, up from 121 incidents in 2010. During the past two months alone, there have been 20 percent more smuggling events than the over same time period the previous year.

Additionally, in December, a U.S. Coast Guard officer was killed when his boat was rammed by the panga boat his boat was pursuing.

According to the Malibu Times, the smugglers are currently being handled by a combination of agencies:

The Department of Homeland Security’s Central California Maritime Agency Coordination Group in the Malibu area consists of the California National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, U.S. Coast Guard, DHS (which includes ICE), Homeland Security Investigations, Los Angeles County Fire Department (including lifeguards), California State Parks and LA County Sheriff’s Department. The National Guard, for example, has access to high-powered night vision surveillance equipment not readily available to the sheriff ’s department.

A statement from Waxman''s office states, "'It is critical that our borders and our coasts are secure from drug and human trafficking and I’m committed to ensuring that federal, state and local officials have sufficient resources to combat this illegal activity.'"

Lawmakers Request Briefing on Panga Boat Smuggling | Security Management

January 3, 2013
BY BILL KOENEKER
malibusurfsidenews.com

• Want Homeland Security Agency to Do More to Secure Coast

A contingent of U.S. Congressmembers from Southern California including Malibu’s Henry Waxman, expressing concern about increased panga boat smuggling on the California coast, have indicated they want better communication and briefings with Department of Homeland Security officials “to explore the federal role in our coast security.”

Specifically, the lawmakers, Congressmembers Lois Capps, Janice Hahn, Waxman and other colleagues in the California Congressional Delegation wrote to the DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano to express their concerns.

The tragic death of Chief Petty Officer Terre Horne III, in a confrontation with panga operators, has put the national spotlight on the issue, which has faced a notable increase in the incidents of panga smuggling over the past two years, the Congressional delegation noted.

“There have been a troubling rise in drug and human trafficking off the California coast. I’m working with Rep. Lois Capps, Rep. Janice Hahn to ensure that our Coast Guard and customs officials have the resources to fight this dangerous activity,” Waxman, said in a prepared statement.

Most of the Congressmembers made it clear that the death of Horne “has reminded us of the increasing danger of panga smuggling and the threat they continue to pose in Southern and Central California.”

Hahn said, “We need to redouble our efforts to counter this threat and ensure that we are effectively coordinating federal, state and local agencies to keep our shore and our people safe.”

In July, Capps hosted a meeting between federal and local law enforcement to discuss the increased incidents, how best to focus limited resources and how to better coordinate law enforcement efforts between various agencies.

The letter indicates the lawmakers want an update on “what the federal government has done to date to prevent these boats from landing on American shores.”

The letter states that according to data kept by the U.S. Border Patrol, in fiscal year, 2011, 57 panga events off Southern California were reported. To date in fiscal year 2012 already 64 events have been reported.

They have been found up the state’s coast as far as San Francisco and due to the increase in enforcement on the Southern California region an increasing number have also been landing on the Central Coast.

“We are interested in gaining a complete picture of the resources and tools at your disposal to address the threats these vessels pose and to learn how the federal government works with local and state officials to protect our shores. We stand ready to work with you to ensure that we are doing all we can to keep our citizens and our coastline safe,” the letter concludes.

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