SAN DIEGO — Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) Honolulu boarding team interdicted 11 suspected aliens aboard a 20-foot vessel approximately two miles south of Point Loma, Saturday.
At 10:45 p.m., Coast Guard Cutter Haddock (WPB 87347) observed an unidentified vessel by radar and notified watch standers from Coast Guard Sector San Diego Joint Harbor Operations Center, who then diverted the MSST boarding team to intercept and Coast Guard Station San Diego to assist.
MSST boarding team members identified a 20-foot vessel and gained compliance without escalated use of force.
During the boarding, 11 adult males claiming Mexican nationality were detained by MSST boarding team.
While the boatcrew from Coast Guard Station San Diego was enroute to assist, the 20-foot vessel was observed to be slowly taking on water and starting to sink. A bilge pump was deployed but could not keep up with the rate of water ingress, resulting in a Coast Guard member and four individuals entering the water. Coast Guard Station San Diego arrived on scene and recovered all persons from the water.
No injuries or loss of equipment were reported.
All 11 detained individuals were transported to Ballast Point and transferred to U.S. Border Patrol agents.
Illegal maritime migration aboard makeshift or unseaworthy vessels is inherently dangerous, and the Coast Guard strongly urges individuals not to risk their lives at sea on unsafe transit. The Coast Guard, alongside partner agencies, remains committed to detecting and intercepting illegal vessels and preventing loss of life at sea.
-USCG-