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 ICE Intercepts Pleasure Boat Carrying Smuggled Chinese Off Point Loma
(10/20/2003)SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Air Marine Enforcement Officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) yesterday intercepted a 22-foot pleasure boat off Point Loma with nine smuggled aliens on board. After stopping the craft, ICE officers boarded and found eight undocumented Chinese nationals, including a juvenile, and one Mexican female hidden on board. Two of the passengers were discovered on the front deck. Seven others were found in a secret compartment below in the forward cabin. The vessel was piloted by two brothers from Mexico."This operation shows our commitment to combating human smuggling, both on land and sea," said David Butterfield, Deputy Field Director of the San Diego Air Marine Branch. "We will continue our patrols seven days a week here in the San Diego area to ensure that our local waterways are safe and secure."The local San Diego ICE Marine Task Force was immediately notified. The captain and his brother were arrested on suspicion of alien smuggling and the case is being referred to the United States Attorney’s Office for prosecution.The female Mexican national and three of the Chinese nationals are being held as material witnesses in the case. The other Chinese nationals, including the juvenile, are being processed for return to China.The ICE San Diego Air Marine Branch is located at the Naval Air Station on North Island and one of three ICE aviation facilities in California. In enforcement operations like this, ICE uses a 39-foot, high-speed interceptor vessel powered by four 225-horse power outboard motors. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, responsible for the enforcement of border, economic, infrastructure and transportation security laws. ICE seeks to prevent acts of terrorism by targeting the people, money and materials that support terrorist and criminal activities. |
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