SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Federal agents foiled a human smuggling attempt early Tuesday by intercepting a small vessel loaded with nearly a dozen unauthorized immigrants in the ocean northwest of Torrey Pines State Reserve, authorities reported.
Personnel with U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations detected the presence of the northbound 20-foot inflatable boat in the sea near the U.S.-Mexico border about 11:30 p.m. Monday, according to CBP public affairs.
The agency sent out an interceptor vessel, which caught up with the suspected smuggling boat about 90 minutes later.
Agents took the 11 occupants of the inflatable vessel -- a Brazilian man and 10 Mexican nationals, including a child -- into custody. Ten of them were turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol for deportation, and one of the men was arrested on suspicion of leading the smuggling attempt, officials said.
The detainees' names were not released.
