OCEANSIDE: Suspected Illegal aliens arrested on boat

By TERI FIGUEROA - tfigueroa@nctimes.com
February 5, 2010 12:40 pm

OCEANSIDE ---- Federal agents stopped a small fishing boat carrying 23 suspected illegal aliens off the Oceanside coast early Friday morning, the Coast Guard said.

A crew of Customs and Border Patrol agents spotted and stopped the panga boat about 1:40 a.m. Twenty-two of the 23 suspected illegal immigrants on board were handed over to the Coast Guard. Border Patrol agents took custody of the remaining person and the boat, the Coast Guard stated in a press release.

All of the people were wearing life jackets and appeared to be in good condition, the release stated.

The incident came days after two men were charged in federal court after two immigrants drowned off the coast at Torrey Pines when their boat capsized during a suspected smuggling attempt Jan. 16.

Authorities said tighter security along the U.S.-Mexico border had led human traffickers to increasingly turn to the dangerous water routes.

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