U.S. Border Patrol, Air and Marine Operations Stop Maritime Smuggling Event on Florid

U.S. Border Patrol, Air and Marine Operations Stop Maritime Smuggling Event on Florida Coast

Release Date: February 20, 2020




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Vessel carrying illegal aliens abandoned along Florida coast.WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — An illegal entry into the United States off the Florida coast was thwarted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, along with other federal, state, and local law enforcement.


On the morning of Feb. 13, Delray Beach Police Department notified U.S. Border Patrol agents of a maritime smuggling event near Gulf Stream, Fla. Several subjects absconded from a 25-foot cuddy cabin vessel beached along the shoreline. Border Patrol agents responded to the scene with the assistance of CBP's Air and Marine Operations' West Palm Beach Marine Unit.


Additional federal, state, and local authorities also assisted in the search of the illegal aliens.
CBP agents arrested five individuals shortly after responding to the area. A Border Patrol K-9 team tracked and located an additional three individuals.




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Two packages containing marijuana were also discovered in the vessel. While searching the beached vessel, agents also discovered two packages containing marijuana with a combined weight of 3.5 lbs.


Four Haitian adult males and four Haitian adult females were arrested for unlawful entry and processed for removal.


CBP’s top priority is to keep terrorists and their weapons from entering the U.S. while welcoming all legitimate travelers and commerce. CBP officers and agents enforce all applicable U.S. laws, including against illegal immigration, narcotics smuggling, and illegal importation. CBP deploys highly trained law enforcement personnel who apprehend more than 1,000 individuals each day for suspected violations of U.S. laws.


CBP officers lead CBP’s border security mission at ports of entry from the Office of Field Operations, along U.S. borders by agents from the United States Border Patrol and from the air and sea by agents from Air and Marine Operations. Also at ports of entry, agriculture specialists are deployed to protect U.S. agriculture from the introduction of pests or disease from overseas sources.


For more information about CBP, visit: CBP.gov, Flickr, DVIDS, or follow us on Twitter at @CBP and @CBP Florida.



https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-m...time-smuggling