By SDCN Staff
San Diego, CA–The U.S. Coast Guard intercepted 17 suspected undocumented migrants aboard a panga-style vessel approximately 10 miles west of Sunset Cliffs in San Diego early Sunday morning.
According to the Coast Guard, watchstanders at the Sector San Diego Joint Harbor Operations Center were notified at approximately 1:18 a.m. by an HC-130 Hercules aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento of a vessel of interest operating southwest of Point Loma.
The aircrew maintained surveillance of the vessel and provided continuous position updates as the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Forrest Rednour diverted to intercept the boat.
Upon arrival, the Forrest Rednour launched an over-the-horizon boat crew and boarding team, which successfully stopped and boarded the vessel.
During the boarding, Coast Guard personnel encountered 17 individuals on board, including 16 adults who claimed Mexican nationality and one unaccompanied minor who claimed Guatemalan nationality.
All 17 individuals were taken aboard the cutter and later transferred to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations personnel. They were transported to Ballast Point and turned over to the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol for further processing.
The Coast Guard did not release additional details regarding the incident.
