In a recent operation off the San Diego coast, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Air and Marine Operations (AMO) detected and aided in the interception of a suspicious vessel found to be in distress. As reported by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the vessel was spotted on Sunday, around 9 p.m., by a crew aboard an AMO Multi-Role Enforcement Aircraft while scanning the international waters southwest of San Diego.
The AMO aircrew, waving its advanced reconnaissance skills like a flag at night, provided detailed information on the vessel, including location, heading, and speed, to the Joint Harbor Operations Center. Following these communications, a U.S. naval ship with an embarked U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detail tracked and approached the vessel for further investigation.
Upon arrival, the naval crew identified individuals on the top deck who were signaling with white flags, indicating they were in trouble. A deeper look unveiled a dire situation – the vessel was failing, both mechanically and against the water's will, suffering an engine failure and battling against an influx of water, estimated at 2.5 feet in the engine room and six inches on the main deck.
The U.S. Coast Guard took prompt action, deploying a Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boat to evaluate the scene. They found a total of 18 people on board, comprising 17 Mexican nationals and one U.S. citizen, who, carrying her role as a solitary figure of a different national narrative, was among those facing peril at sea. They were all transferred to safety aboard the naval ship and subsequently airlifted to San Diego by a Coast Guard helicopter for further processing.
The Mexican nationals were handed over to U.S. Border Patrol agents, who took responsibility for their repatriation.
