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San Clemente, Calif. - Border Patrol agents Monday apprehended 12 Mexican nationals suspected of illegally entering the country at sea through the use of a smuggling boat. Agents made the apprehension at the Border Patrol checkpoint in San Clemente.

Agents working at the checkpoint encountered a GMC Yukon on Monday at about 5:15 p.m. Agents arrested a male driver and female passenger, both U.S. citizens, after discovering six illegal aliens hiding inside the SUV.

Agents also inspected a Chevrolet Suburban, which was following the GMC Yukon. A male driver, also a U.S. citizen, was arrested when agents discovered six additional illegal aliens inside the vehicle.

Agents suspected the illegal aliens were involved in a maritime smuggling incident upon noticing that the entire group was wearing similar clothing, new slip-on shoes and sweatpants. Agents also noticed that the group’s personal belongings were wet.

During further interviews, material witnesses among group of illegal aliens admitted that the group illegally entered the country at sea early Monday morning.

The three U.S. citizens are being held in federal custody pending prosecution for alien smuggling.

Interior Border Patrol checkpoints provide a defense-in-depth enforcement posture to effectively detect, apprehend, and deter smugglers of humans, drugs and other contraband.

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.