According to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) maritime smuggling events in Orange, Los Angeles, and Ventura counties increased significantly this summer reaching record levels.
Just in the month of July, members of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Regional Coordination Mechanism (ReCoM), in coordination with local law enforcement agencies, have responded to 12 smuggling events in the area.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
As informed, these smuggling events often use pleasure crafts and repurposed Mexican fishing vessels known as “pangas,” to smuggle migrants and narcotics into the area.
These smuggling attempts along the coastline of Palos Verdes, Long Beach, San Pedro, Malibu, Newport Beach, and the first-ever panga landing in Santa Catalina Island, resulted in the apprehension of 90 undocumented individuals. While most were adult males of diverse nationalities, females and teenagers were also among those apprehended.
In coordination with our strategic partners we will continue deploying strategic resources as well as information-sharing strengthening our posture to deter and disrupt human smuggling activities.
…said Carlos C. Martel CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles.
Although smuggling activity through the coastline is nothing new, it was an activity traditionally seen near the Southwest border. As enforcement operations ramp up at the border, criminal organizations have expanded their area of operations further north.
Smuggling along the California coastline is inherently dangerous and criminal organizations are not concerned with public safety. They see migrants and narcotics as simply cargo.
With the support of our strategic ReCoM partners we stand united in combating and disrupting the transnational criminal organizations behind this illegal activity. We will continue to work collaboratively with our domestic and international partners to detect, intercept and disrupt these dangerous smuggling events.
…said USBP San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke.
Concluding, the ReCoM is comprised of Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), and CBP’s Office of Field Operations (OFO).
