The mission of U.S Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations Unit is to save lives, which is a hard thing to do amid dangerous offshore conditions. Despite the deadly waters, CBP says they’ve seen an increase in human smuggling off San Diego’s coast, and agents blame smugglers who disregard the threat of the open ocean and prey on people who dream of a better life in the United States.
Since October, 229 illegal maritime crossing attempts were made in the San Diego sector, an approximate increase of 80%, according to CBP. There were 356 during all of 2021.
There are also dangerous rock formations hiding in the cover of night which can also build up kelp that can jam propellers. And down by the border, there’s a buildup of offshore surf where boaters don’t typically expect it. The CBP says these extreme conditions can present the perfect trap for inexperience boaters, leading to tragic loss, like when a 40-foot boat carrying more than two dozen people capsized near Point Loma last May.
“We have top of the line radar, top of the line infrared cameras on our vessels,” Agent Wagley said. “These boats are pretty fast, so once we make contact with one of those smuggling boats, chances are it’s not going to get away.”
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