A vessel running without lights was intercepted by CBP agents late at night off the Miami coast. Four individuals now face federal charges for human smuggling and illegal re-entry.
A coordinated operation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Homeland Security Investigations stopped a suspected alien smuggling attempt off the coast of Miami on the night of March 11, resulting in the apprehension of 15 individuals attempting to enter the United States illegally.
At 11:45 p.m. EST, a CBP maritime crew intercepted a vessel operating without running lights — a common tactic used by smuggling operations to avoid detection in open water. Officers aboard the CBP boat initiated a stop on the unknown vessel and discovered one adult Bahamian male operating it, along with 14 additional occupants: four Dominican adult males, three Ecuadorian adult males, one Haitian adult male, one Haitian minor male, and five Haitian adult females.
A nearby Lauderdale Marine Unit vessel assisted in securing the scene and transporting all occupants to the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter William Flores for processing.
Eleven of the individuals were subsequently returned to the Bahamas, their country of origin, on Sunday. The remaining four were arrested by Homeland Security Investigations and are now facing federal charges for human smuggling and illegal re-entry.
“Human smuggling operations at sea put lives at serious risk,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “This mission highlights the success that DHS’s hard-working law enforcement officers can achieve when working jointly with other agencies and state and local government officials. We are thankful to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, our U.S. Coast Guard Service members, and Homeland Security Investigations who protect this nation’s maritime borders and help dismantle criminal organizations that try to smuggle illegal aliens into the country.”
A Coordinated Maritime Enforcement Operation
The interdiction reflects the multi-agency approach DHS has deployed along the maritime approaches to the United States — coordinating CBP air and marine assets, Coast Guard vessels, and HSI special agents to cover smuggling corridors that operate around the clock.
Human smuggling by sea carries serious dangers for the people being transported — vessels are frequently overcrowded, lack proper safety equipment, and operate in conditions that pose significant risk to everyone aboard. The vessel intercepted off Miami was running without lights in open water at nearly midnight, conditions that create obvious hazards in a busy maritime corridor.
The four individuals facing federal charges for human smuggling and illegal re-entry could face significant prison sentences under federal law. Human smuggling charges under 8 U.S.C. 1324 carry penalties of up to five years in prison per count, with enhanced penalties when the offense results in serious bodily injury, places life in jeopardy, or is committed for financial gain.
For more information on CBP maritime enforcement operations, visit cbp.gov. To report suspected smuggling activity, contact the CBP tip line at 1-800-BE-ALERT (1-800-232-5378).
