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US Customs and Border Protection said it arrested 60 smugglers off the coast of California in April in cooperation with the US Coast Guard.
CBP’s Air and Marine Operations Division intercepted three separate vessels off the coast of southern California from April 17-21, CBP said in an announcement Friday.
On April 17, CBP personnel from the San Diego Marine Unit intercepted a 24-foot boat near San Clemente Island. The boat had 13 people, including seven men, five women and a young woman. CBP brought the boat to Ballast Point Naval Base for processing, according to the announcement.
The next day, CBP intercepted another suspected smuggling boat 80 miles southwest of San Diego.
Assisted by Coast Guard Cutter Florence Finch, the Air and Marine Operations’ Long Beach Marine Unit intercepted a boat near San Nicolas Island, capturing 29 Mexicans. The Coast Guard transported the people and the vessel to Newport Harbor and turned them over to the US Border Patrol, CBP said.
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United States Coast Guard cutter Florence Finch. Launched in 2024, the Florence Finch is a fast response Sentinel cutter designed for high speed surveillance. (US Coast Guard Pacific Area)
The third and final activity took place on 21 April. Terrell Horne of the coast guard intercepted a 25-meter cabin boat with 18 Mexican citizens. The Coast Guard also transported them for processing by the US Border Patrol.
A US Customs and Border Patrol photo shows suspected smugglers surrendering on April 24, 2026. (US Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations)
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More than 60 people have a criminal record for a wide range of offenses including failure to obey the law, drunken driving, larceny, making false police reports, drug possession, warrants to resist arrest, burglary, burglary, possession of burglary tools, receiving stolen property, drug trafficking, harassment and domestic violence.
“These laws demonstrate the lengths to which dangerous criminals will go to avoid apprehension, including taking to sea in unsafe, overcrowded vessels,” said Senior Director of Air and Marine Operations Southwest Region Hunter Robinson in a statement. “Their desperation puts lives at risk. Our crews are dedicated to keeping these dangerous people off the coast so we can keep our communities safe.”
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Border crossings and apprehensions have decreased significantly during President Donald Trump’s administration compared to former President Joe Biden’s. Border crossings during the first six months of the fiscal year are the lowest on record, the Department of Homeland Security said in an April statement.
Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue agents from the Tucson sector and Air and Marine Operations demonstrated the rescue of a missing migrant in the Brown Canyon desert near Sasabe, Ariz. (Herika Martinez/AFP)
Fox News Digital reached out to the US Coast Guard and CBP for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
