SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection stopped an attempt to smuggle 15 people into the U.S. off the coast of San Diego Friday evening.
A crew was on patrol when they spotted a 23-foot cuddy cabin boat. After inspecting the vessel, which was spotted about four miles south of Point Loma, agents saw that it was overloaded with people onboard.
“Crowding too many people on a small pleasure craft out at sea can be dangerous to those on board, as our agents know all too well,” Said Jeremy Thompson, Director of Marine Operations for CBP in San Diego. “People’s lives can be at risk when they are putting their trust in a smuggler who cares more about profit than people. I’m glad we were able to work with our partners to safely bring these folks to shore.”
The people onboard the boat were then taken to the San Ysidro port of entry for processing.
Agents say there were eight men, six women, including a pregnant woman and a 15-year-old boy who were all determined to be Mexican nationals without legal status to enter the U.S.
The driver of the boat will face federal charges related to the smuggling attempt, according to CBP.
