26 arrested in San Diego boat smuggling attempts

Sep 4, 3:52 PM EDT

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- U.S. authorities say they intercepted two boats off San Diego's coast with a total of 24 illegal immigrants aboard.

Coast Guard officials saw a 26-foot boat with 11 men and three women aboard shortly after 3 a.m. Tuesday. Authorities say all were illegal immigrants from Mexico.

The boat was spotted about two miles off the coast of Imperial Beach.

Around 6 a.m. Wednesday, agents arrested eight men and five women - illegal immigrants from Mexico - who were hiding in the cabin of a 24-foot boat approaching San Diego's Mission Bay. Two U.S. citizens who were allegedly operating the boat were also arrested.

It was not immediately clear how many were returned to Mexico.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/ ... TE=DEFAULT