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  4. AMO Stops Dinghy with Three Aliens Crossing Illegally near St. John

AMO Stops Dinghy with Three Aliens Crossing Illegally near St. John

Release Date
Tue, 10/09/2018

ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) Interdiction Agents intercepted Thursday a dinghy with three aliens, two Haitians and 1 British men navigating without lights crossing the border between Tortola and St. John. 

A dinghy is a small inflatable rubber boat.
A dinghy is a small inflatable rubber boat.

“AMO crews spend many hours patrolling the Caribbean region to discover smuggling ventures into US territory,” said Johnny Morales, Director of Air and Marine Operations in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

During the evening of Oct. 4, an AMO maritime crew observed an observed a lights out dinghy crossing the border and approaching the St. John USVI shoreline without navigational lights.

AMO crew intercepted the vessel finding three men; two claimed to be citizens of Haiti and one claimed to be a citizen from the British Virgin Islands.  

The agents transferred custody of the three aliens to CBP officers for immigration processing.   

AMO is a federal law enforcement organization dedicated to serving and protecting the American people through advanced aeronautical and maritime capabilities.  With approximately 1,800 federal agents and mission support personnel, 240 aircraft, and 300 marine vessels operating throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands, AMO conducts its mission in the air and maritime environments at and beyond the border, and within the nation's interior.

Follow us @CBPCaribbean.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021