Crime & Safety
U.S. Coast Guard Interdicts 17 Migrants Near San Diego
The U.S. Coast Guard recently took 17 migrants suspected of entering the country illegally on a panga boat into custody.
SAN DIEGO, CA — The U.S. Coast Guard recently took 17 migrants suspected of entering the country illegally on a panga boat into custody off the coast of San Diego, officials announced this weekend.
The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Forrest Rednour interdicted a panga- style boat approximately 10 miles west of Sunset Cliffs on June 7, according to a Coast Guard statement.
"At 1:18 a.m., Sector San Diego Joint Harbor Operations Center watch standers received notification from a Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento HC-130 Hercules aircrew of a vessel of interest southwest of Point Loma," the statement said. "The aircrew maintained surveillance of the vessel and provided continuous position updates while the Forrest Rednour crew diverted to intercept."
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The cutter then launched an over-the-horizon boat crew and boarding team, which gained control of the vessel.
"The boarding team found 17 suspected aliens aboard, 16 claiming Mexican nationality and one unaccompanied minor claiming Guatemalan nationality," the USCG said. "All suspected aliens were embarked aboard the Forrest Rednour and later transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations personnel for transport to Ballast Point to U.S. Border Patrol custody."
