see also: in August 2005 Press Releases:   DHS: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Formally Submitted for Public Comment   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Canine Superstar Wins Paws to Recognize Voting Contest   Border Patrol Seizes Refrigerated Truck Trailer Loaded with Aliens   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Selects the “Predator B” as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Platform to Guard our Nations Borders   CBP Border Patrol Agents Arrest Murder Suspect   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Apprehends Man Wanted for Murder   CBP Aircraft Coordinates Vessel Interdiction; Major Load of Cocaine Seized ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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San Diego, CA. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol has added two new boats to help keep San Diego’s coastal waters safe. San Diego Sector’s Marine Interdiction Unit (MIU) is the Border Patrol’s only full time marine unit in the United States. The MIU is an important part of the National Border Patrol Strategy and helps to achieve its overall goal: operational control of our nation’s border. Achieving the new Border Patrol Strategy requires having the right combination of highly trained and well-equipped Border Patrol agents, which includes marine assets.

The MIU’s primary mission is preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the territorial waters of the United States while continuing to advance its traditional mission of interdicting and apprehending alien and narcotic smugglers.

The San Diego Sector’s MIU was created in 1992 and until recently, consisted of three 24-foot rigid hull inflatable patrol boats. The unit is phasing out the prior fleet of vessels in favor of the new and advanced boats. The new fleet is larger, faster, has improved radar, and has already interdicted several smuggling loads. The MIU added a 25’ Safeboat, a 30’ Intrepid, and plans to add another 30’ Intrepid later this year.

In addition to working with the United States Coast Guard, the Border Patrol’s MIU works closely with legacy Customs Marine Enforcement Officers, the Harbor Police, the Marine Task Force, and other local, state, and federal agencies. In the first ten days after receiving the new fleet, the MIU seized several boats involved in alien smuggling and rescued two boaters in distress. The MIU also helped rescue passengers from the America’s Cup yacht, “Stars and Stripes.”

The MIU received a distress call from the Stars and Stripes Wednesday, July 13, indicating that they were taking on water and needed assistance. Both the MIU and “Vessel Assist” responded and transferred a total of 18 passengers on to their boats. The Stars and Stripes was then safely towed to the Hornblower dock at Broadway Pier.

The other two rescues were in response to “mayday” calls for help. The first was in response to a sailboat taking on water and drifting towards rocks. The MIU responded, rescued the sole occupant and pumped water from the bilge until the boat was towed to safety. The second call came that same day in response to a boat on fire. When the agents arrived, the boat was engulfed in flames. Agents were able to quickly and safely board the boat and extract the sole occupant.

The MIU continues to maintain a ready status for any maritime emergency nationwide. Unit agents have the ability to quickly adjust to unfamiliar waters and conduct effective law enforcement operations in a variety of situations and vessels.

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.