SAN DIEGO — Six vessels suspected of maritime smuggling and transporting a total of 82 migrants were intercepted in separate incidents over the weekend, U.S. Coast Guard officials said Tuesday.
Five vessels were intercepted within a 90-minute span south of San Clemente Island on Saturday, officials said. A sixth vessel was interdicted near Sunset Cliffs the next day.
The Coast Guard, along with partner agencies of the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Navy, coordinated the operations at sea and in the air.
The first reports were received around 12:30 p.m. Saturday regarding three suspected smuggling vessels that were traveling northbound from Mexican waters. The vessels were described as “20-to-25-foot cuddy cabin-style boats carrying fishing gear and fuel barrels onboard,” according to a news release.
A Coast Guard crew was sent to investigate and found the first vessel about 26 miles south of San Clemente Island. Officials reported that there were 10 individuals, all of whom claimed to be Mexican nationals, inside.
A DHS partner agency aircraft located the second vessel. When a crew was sent to the location, a pursuit began. Warning shots were fired as the vessel initially failed to comply with commands to stop, officials said. Ten people claiming to be Mexican nationals were found on board.
Federal officials later stopped a third vessel and found nine people on board who claimed to be Mexican nationals.
Officials received reports of more suspected smuggling boats in the area. Later, crews from the U.S. Navy, the Coast Guard, and DHS agencies located the fourth and fifth vessels.
One of the boats was transporting 16 migrants, 14 of whom were Mexican nationals and two of whom were Colombian nationals. The second boat was transporting 17 people, 16 of whom claimed to be Mexican nationals and one of whom claimed to be a Guatemalan national.
A total of 62 people were detained Saturday, including one unaccompanied minor. They were all turned over to DHS for further processing.
On Sunday, the Coast Guard interdicted a panga-style boat approximately 8 miles west of Sunset Cliffs. Twenty migrants were found inside, 19 of whom claimed Mexican nationality and one said he was a Sudanese national.
Last year, the Coast Guard reinforced its operational presence near the U.S.-Mexico border to bolster border security.
According to Border Patrol data, there were 490 maritime smuggling events resulting in 1,526 apprehensions in fiscal 2025, which ended on Sept. 30. The previous fiscal year saw 589 such incidents and 1,375 apprehensions.
The Mexican Consulate in San Diego said on Tuesday that consular staff have interviewed 32 Mexican nationals in immigration detention centers who were aboard the vessels to offer assistance as needed. No injuries were reported.
The Mexican consulate posted a video on social media to warn people about the risks of crossing the border illegally by sea or other dangerous routes.
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