Coast Guard Detains 8 People From Boat Off Point Loma

SAN DIEGO, CA — Eight people suspected of entering the United States illegally were detained after the Coast Guard intercepted a boat off Point Loma, authorities said.

The vessel was spotted Tuesday night about 6 miles offshore, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Watchstanders at the Joint Harbor Operations Center detected a suspicious vessel shortly after 8 p.m. and dispatched a boarding team from the Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team Los Angeles/Long Beach.

The team located the 21-foot vessel and boarded it without incident, the Coast Guard said.

Eight adults aboard the boat were detained on suspicion of being in the country illegally. The Coast Guard did not release their names, nationalities or other identifying information.

The eight people were taken to Ballast Point and transferred to U.S. Border Patrol agents for further investigation.