IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif.—U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested two adults this morning at the south end of Coronado Silver Strand State Beach. The male and female subjects had entered the U.S. illegally by jet ski.
The incident began at approximately 5:00 a.m., when members of the Joint Harbor Operations Center (JHOC) notified Border Patrol agents and U.S. Coast Guard personnel that they had observed two jet skis crossing from Mexico into U.S. waters.
Border Patrol agents responded to the drop off area and located two individuals emerging from the surf. An immigration inspection revealed that the two people, both Mexican nationals, had entered the U.S. unlawfully. Border Patrol agents placed both subjects under arrest and transported them to a nearby station for processing. In addition to facing Federal charges for illegal entry, a records check also revealed that the male suspect had an outstanding warrant out of San Diego County for possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
The U.S. Border Patrol in collaboration with Federal, state, and local law-enforcement agencies coordinate operations through the Regional Coordinating Mechanism (ReCoM) to address transnational maritime threats along the Southern California coast. The ReCoM mission is to increase homeland security by eliminating transnational crime along the coast. San Diego’s JHOC is the tactical command center for ReCoM.
If you have information about maritime smuggling or suspicious activity along the coast of California, please contact local authorities by dialing 9-1-1.