Smuggling boat lands at Coronado Ferry Landing; 13 in custody

Suspected smuggling boat lands at Coronado Ferry Landing; 13 in custody

Federal authorities kept the boat under surveillance as it entered the bay and arrived at a boat dock

By PAULINE REPARD
OCT. 5, 2019 7:28 PM

CORONADO — Border Patrol agents arrested 13 people on smuggling-related charges after a pleasure boat pulled up at the Coronado Ferry Landing dock Saturday morning.

Air and Marine Operations agents had seen the boat when it was west of Coronado and thought it was suspicious, Border Patrol Agent Theron Francisco said in a statement. He described it as a 21-foot craft with a cuddy, or small, cabin.

Agents kept the boat under surveillance as it landed at the Ferry Landing near Peohe’s Restaurant in Coronado around 11 a.m., Francisco said. Agents waiting onshore took the passengers into custody as they were getting into vehicles.

One of the 13 is a woman and one is a child; eight of the group admitted being in the U.S. illegally and five are suspected of being principals in the smuggling operation, Francisco said.

Federal officials seized the boat and two of the vehicles used to pick up the boat passengers.

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