see also: in December 2008:   CBP Lists Top 10 Enforcement Events of 2008   CBP Seizes $200K in Undeclared Currency; Arrest 1 at Texas Port   Marfa Sector Agents Apprehend Murder Suspect   San Ysidro Port Modernization Deployment Temporarily Reduces Lanes   Border Patrol Agents Assist in Locating Distressed Individual   CBP Officers Stop Man at Michigan Border Crossing Wanted for Aggravated Sexual Assault   Holiday Surprise; CBP Unwraps 312 Pounds of Khat in December ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Yuma, Ariz. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Border Patrol, through its Yuma station’s marine unit, aided a party of trapped boaters in the Colorado River Friday evening.

At about 6:05 p.m., the Yuma County sheriff’s office informed the Yuma Border Patrol station that a party of recreational boaters appeared to be in distress in the Colorado River. According to the report, a small boat carrying two children and four adults appeared to be trapped against a rock barrier in the Colorado River, north of County 8th Street.

The barrier, or rock weir, stretches across the river from Yuma to the Andrade, Calif. side. The weir is composed of large granite boulders, and the river current is very swift and turbulent as it flows over and through the rocks.

Upon assessing the situation, the Border Patrol agents assigned to the marine unit were able to safely transfer the two children to their patrol boat and transport them to shore. They then returned to the vessel and towed it to a safe location. The vessel was not damaged by the incident, and the occupants resumed boating without further assistance.

No one was injured during the incident, and no damage to the vessel was reported.

Residents are reminded to exercise extreme caution when conducting recreational activities in and navigating through the Colorado River.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with 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.