- February 7th, 2011 7:33 pm PT
U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested 31 illegal aliens yesterday who tried to unlawfully enter the country aboard small, panga-style boats off the San Diego coastline.
Just after midnight, Border Patrol agents, working in conjunction with CBP Air and Marine Branch, spotted a panga boat cross the U.S. international boundary and travel north along the California coast.
The vessel came ashore near the mouth of the Tijuana River, several individuals disembarked and then the boat quickly returned south towards Mexico. Border Patrol agents wasted no time and apprehended 14 individuals and placed them under arrest for unlawfully entering the United States.
According to CBP, two female and 11 male Mexican nationals as well as one male Honduran national were transported to a local Border Patrol station for processing.
“A second maritime smuggling attempt was intercepted this morning near Camp Pendleton, California. At approximately 2:50 a.m., Border Patrol agents observed a panga-style boat approach the shoreline near Red Beach. Several individuals jumped out of the boat and headed toward cliffs east of the shoreline,” a CBP statement read.
Border Patrol agents quickly responded to the scene and arrested 17 individuals who all claimed to be Mexican nationals illegally entering the United States. Agents transported 13 males and 4 females to a local Border Patrol Station for processing.
However the boat absconded back toward Mexico, before agents could reach the location.
With the deployment of the National Guard along the California coast, CBP and Border Patrol have been able to hone their nighttime observation skills and been able to foil many daring maritime entries into America along the Southern California coast.
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