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CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coast Guard interdicted and detained 16 Mexican fishermen engaged in illegal fishing and seized approximately 2,500 pounds of fish in federal waters off southern Texas on Tuesday night.
Coast Guard Cutter Daniel Tarr and Coast Guard Station South Padre Island boat crews, in coordination with Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi Command Center watch standers and Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi aircrews, detected and interdicted a total of 16 Mexican fishermen engaged in illegal fishing north of the Maritime Boundary Line (MBL) in the Gulf of America.
After interdicting four lanchas, Coast Guard crews took the fishermen into custody, brought them ashore, and transferred them to U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel for processing. Coast Guard personnel also seized an approximate total of 2,500 pounds of red snapper, along with fishing gear and equipment found on board the vessels. Two of the lanchas were also seized, while two were marked and left adrift due to flooding and instability.
"Our crews will continue to relentlessly detect and deter threats to our nation’s sovereignty. These illegal activities support trafficking and other criminal activities on our nation’s southern maritime border," said Lt. David Anderson, commanding officer, Coast Guard Cutter Daniel Tarr. "Our enduring at-sea presence is vital in combatting these illegal operations.”
A lancha is a fishing boat used by Mexican fishermen that is approximately 20-30 feet long, with a slender profile, one outboard motor, and capable of traveling at speeds exceeding 30 mph. Lanchas are frequently used to illegally fish in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) near the U.S.-Mexico border in the Gulf of America. The illegal poaching and trade of red snapper and other fish species is often a revenue stream for criminal organizations. Apart from their use for illegal poaching in U.S. waters, lanchas may also used to move illicit drugs and aliens into the United States.
If you witness suspicious activity or illegal fishing in state waters (from land to 9 miles offshore), please contact “Operation Game Thief” at 1-800-792-GAME (4263). For all suspicious activity or illegal fishing occurring in federal waters (out to 200 miles offshore), please contact the U.S. Coast Guard at 361-939-0450.
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