MIAMI – Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell's crew returned 23 aliens of mixed nationalities to The Bahamas, Saturday, following an illegal maritime venture interdiction in U.S. territorial waters southeast of Key Biscayne.
A suspected smuggler was transferred ashore to Homeland Security Investigations custody to support further investigation for potential federal prosecution.
Coast Guard Sector Miami command center watchstanders were notified by Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, Tuesday, of two recreational vessels involved in a suspected smuggling event. A CBP-AMO boat crew interdicted both vessels and transferred custody of all 24 people aboard to the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous for processing and disposition. The 23 aliens aboard were of Chinese, Ecuadorian and Colombian nationalities.
“The Coast Guard and our federal, state and local partners are committed to U.S. maritime border security in Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands,” said Lt. Cmdr. John W. Beal, Seventh Coast Guard District public affairs officer. “We will continue to enforce U.S. laws and defend our maritime borders from illegal entry through coordinated efforts on land, in the air and at sea. Don’t take to the sea.”
Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, aliens are processed to determine their identity and are provided food, water, shelter, and basic medical attention before repatriation to their country of origin or return to the country of their departure, consistent with U.S. law and policy. Human smuggling events will be investigated for federal prosecution.
The Coast Guard, along with its Homeland Security Task Force – Southeast partners, maintains a continual presence with air, land, and sea assets in the Florida Straits, the Windward Passage, the Mona Passage, and the Caribbean Sea in support of Operation Vigilant Sentry. The HSTF-SE combined, multi-layered approach is designed to protect the safety of life at sea while preventing unlawful maritime entry to the United States and its territories.
To learn more about the OVS mission, watch these videos:
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