Published: March 1, 2011
Updated: 10:44 a.m.

Sea crew tries to stem human-smuggling tide

BY CINDY CARCAMO
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERStory Highlights

SAN DIEGO – A 12-man crew on a cutter bobbing up and down and from side to side as it carves through the Pacific Ocean on a recent night has become the first line of defense in the latest frontier for illegal human smuggling: the sea.

As the federal government hardens its land borders against once-popular smuggling routes in California, the ocean is quickly becoming a preferred method for those seeking to cross illegally into the United States from Mexico.

Dana Point: On Feb. 15, officials apprehended 18 Mexican nationals about five miles offshore from Dana Point.

San Onofre: On Feb. 14, 18 Mexican nationals were taken into custody after U.S. Border Patrol agents spotted a boat landing at San Onofre State Park.

Crystal Cove: On Dec. 28, about eight to 10 people were seen running from a boat as it made its way to shore along Crystal Cove. None of the passengers were apprehended.

Now, it's up to U.S. Coast Guard crewmen with nicknames of "Cookie," "Angel Eyes" and "Pasta." They increasingly have to contend with the surge of human smuggling boats that may have once been used for fishing but now can carry up to 18 foreigners illegally into U.S. waters.
"It doesn't take rocket science to see that when the border becomes rock solid, they'll have to go to Arizona or the maritime," said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Thomas Farris, the commander for the San Diego sector. "It's like squeezing a balloon."

Last fiscal year, federal agents intercepted a record number of watercraft – 110 – and people – 867 – trying to sneak into the country illegally. Those numbers are about double what they were the previous year, according to records dating back to when they first started tracking the data in 2008.

Numbers so far this year suggest the record may be broken again. As of mid-February of this fiscal year, federal agents have apprehended 265 people in 40 smuggling vessels – including three boats off south Orange County.

O.C. BEACHES ATTRACTIVE TO SMUGGLERS

One of most recent interdictions was on Feb. 14, just off of Dana Point, where the crew on the Haddock Coast Guard cutter – in coordination with U.S. Border Patrol agents – apprehended 18 people on a small boat who had entered the country illegally.
Many of these boats are caught in the San Diego area. But as federal agents have become more successful there, smugglers have been increasingly inching their way farther north.
In the last year smugglers have worked their way toward Orange County, Farris said.
In early February, agents apprehended a boat at San Onofre State Park with 18 people on board. In December, a smuggling boat washed up on the beach at Crystal Cove State Park.
Orange County's wide-open beaches near major highways attract human boat traffickers, Farris said.
"Anywhere you can land quickly, drop your cargo and get to a vehicle without being seen probably increases your chances of getting away with it," he said.
Smugglers heading for northern beaches, such as in Orange County, typically take a different route. While most boaters going to southern San Diego beaches tend to stay close to shore, those heading north sail farther out into the ocean before heading straight east into the beaches.
Foreigners pay about $6,000 a pop to a boat smuggler willing to take them on the small fishing boats that are up to 25 feet long. They are often referred to as "Mexican pangas." The cost is about double what someone would pay for a land crossing, according to U.S. Border Patrol officials.

THE HADDOCK INTERCEPTION IN DANA POINT

The desperation of people willing to risk their lives by venturing into the unforgiving sea is not only a dangerous proposition for themselves but also the U.S. Coast Guard crew members tasked with catching them.
That's why Petty Officer 2nd Class Francisco Quilantang, nicknamed "Q," offered up a quick prayer "for protection and guidance" before he hopped on a secondary boat that split from the Haddock to make contact with a green and white small boat off of Dana Point last month.
As he led a crew of four toward the panga in the thick of darkness, he thought about all the "what ifs."
"You don't know who you'll come in contact with. You just think of the different possibilities ... of them having a weapon on board. Are they going to put up a fight?" Quilantang said. "You always have to be prepared mentally."
Three on the secondary boat had their guns drawn and flashlights in hand as they and the Haddock turned on their lights and flashed a large spotlight on the panga boat about 500 feet away.
"This is the U.S. Coast Guard," Quilantag said he told the people on the boat in English. "I want to see everyone's hands up."
The 15 men and three women on the boat were caught by surprise. Their eyes grew large as Quilantang told them what to do.
Some understood and obeyed while others didn't but quickly caught on, he said.
"It was pretty much quiet. There was silence in the whole boat," he said. "They were scared and nobody wanted to make eye contact with us."
All wore life jackets underneath heavy sweaters and hooded jackets.
Quilantag said it appeared to him that the panga had simply broken down.
Nobody put up a fight. Every single one went quietly as U.S. Border Patrol officials in a separate boat apprehended them.

BATTLING HUMAN TRAFFICKING BY SEA

Taking notice of the rising tide of maritime human smuggling operations, the Department of Homeland Security has devoted more resources to targeting the problems, such as additional aircraft, Farris said. The agency is also in the midst of funneling additional assets to the issue, especially after Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano's visit in December.
"I can tell you that they are paying attention and are moving things in the right direction," he said.
While Farris said he'd welcome as many resources as possible from the federal government, he said he understands it's impossible during such cash-strapped times.
Perhaps the most effective effort so far was the formation of the Maritime Unified Command about three years ago. The group is made up of several federal, state and local agencies that have become responsible for targeting the problem.
The command meets once a week and plans for what's ahead based on intelligence they've received from the field, Farris said. Essentially the agencies plan how many resources will be needed and from what agency and where.

BROTHERS AT SEA

The U.S Coast Guard crews at sea are not only responsible for intercepting human smugglers but they also conduct search and rescues and a variety of other missions that can take them out to sea for up to a week at a time.
Quickly the crew has become something of a family unit, weathering storms and rough waters together. They sleep on rotations on closet-sized beds to make sure each is rested enough to keep watch over an expansive ocean. They all praise "Cookie," their cook, who they swear is the best chef in these oceans.
"This is my favorite part," said Executive Petty Officer David Grob as he looked out in the early morning sea off of San Diego bay and smelled the biscuits and gravy from the mess cabin below.
"It's the start of a brand new day," said Grob, a near-18-year Coast Guard veteran.
He prefers this to what he describes the "sadness" at sea.

KEEPING U.S. WATERS SAFE

Grob, 46, has seen first-hand the people who attempt to illegally sneak into the United States waters.
In Miami it was the Haitians and Cubans. In Hawaii it was the Chinese.
"That's the least favorite part of my job," Grob said.
When he came upon the Haitians and Cubans on makeshift water rafts made of plywood and tires off the Florida coast, he said he really couldn't communicate with most of them. Still, the look on their faces was enough.
"No words were exchanged. When you look at someone in the eyes and you see the sadness and despair ... the act of desperation coming over," Grob said. "It's just sad that in other countries people are willing to risk their lives to come to America and sometimes they make it and sometimes they don't."
In his career he's come across dehydrated, seasick and dead people making their way illegally into the United States, he said.
"That's why I don't like it that much," he said. "You don't see people at their best."
The crew members say their main concern is keeping the waters safe not only for the American public but for those who venture into the water unprepared.
"We'd rather save lives than find an empty boat out there," Grob said. "In my opinion, we're saving lives."

Contact the writer: 714-796-7924 or ccarcamo@ocregister.com or www.twitter.com/thecindycarcamo

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