see also: in February 2007 News Releases:   Border Officers Respond To Medical Emergency   Federal Authorities Seize Narcotics Valued at More Than $15 Million in Caribbean   Spring Breakers: Get Your Passports Now   CBP Seizes 403 Pounds of Undeclared Cheese, Two Vehicles at Colombia-Solidarity Bridge   U.S.-Canada Trusted Air Traveler Program Expands   CBP Border Patrol Agents Rescue 56 Aliens from Truck   ACE Mandated for E-manifest Filing at Border Ports in Michigan and New York ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Newark, NJ - On January 31st, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP)/U.S. Coast Guard boarding party conducted a boarding of the M/V OOCL Melbourne at Ambrose Light Station off the coast of New Jersey. The boarding was initiated in response to the M/V OOCL Melbourne’s rescue of 14 Senegalese males from a 40-50 foot motor yacht M/Y L’onde Marine (UK) approximately 800 nautical miles East of Cape Cod in the North Atlantic Ocean (40-45N 052-27W) in 30 foot seas.

On January 28th, the Master of the Melbourne recognized a distress signal from a 40-50 foot motor yacht. He was able to see the name of the vessel – M/Y L'onde Marine, which displayed a UK flag, and several subjects on top of the yacht. The Master described the vessel as rolled 30 degrees and contacted the U.S. Coast Guard who advised him to conduct a rescue of the subjects. The Master of the Melbourne took custody of 14 Senegalese men and confined the men in the ship’s gym under guard after conducting a basic search of their persons and possessions. The search of the individuals and their person was negative. All baggage rescued at sea was safeguarded and stored separately from the subjects.

The men range in age from 23 to 43 and speak no English. Some possess valid passports, others have expired passports or other I.D., and some possess no I.D. at all. None of the men possessed a valid visa to enter the U.S. CBP officers conducted an interview of the men, which revealed that they departed Senegal on December 12, 2006 with the intentions of sailing to New York to look for employment. Approximately 10-11 days out they encountered a problem with the sails and were unable to get the yacht's motor started. They remained at sea until the M/V OOCL Melbourne rescued them on January 28, 2007. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will detain the men until they can be safely returned to Senegal.

“These men placed themselves in a dangerous situation that could have cost them their lives. Luckily, the Melbourne was able to conduct this heroic rescue. As sister agencies within the Department of Homeland Security; Customs and Border Protection, the Coast Guard, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement were able to pool our resources to ensure that these men posed no threat to our national security,” stated Susan Mitchell, the Director of Field Operations for Customs and Border Protection in New York.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security responsible for the management, control, and protection of our Nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.