SAN DIEGO – Coast Guard members interdicted 15 suspected aliens approximately 24 miles southwest of San Clemente Island, Tuesday morning.
At 9:43 p.m., Monday night, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Diego Joint Harbor Operations Center received a report of an unidentified vessel transiting towards U.S. waters and dispatched Coast Guard Cutter David Duren (WPC 1156) crew members.
The asset that originally reported the vessel later noted that it appeared to have lost propulsion for an unknown reason.
Duren’s boarding team was launched and interdicted the panga, with no use of force being necessary.
All 15 aliens claimed Mexican nationality and were transported by the Coast Guard to another Department of Homeland Security agency at Ballast Point.
—USCG—