Arrests at The Border

47 fugitives arrested at ports of entry

5:17 p.m. May 26, 2009

SAN DIEGO – Forty-seven fugitives suspected in crimes including attempted murder, robbery, burglary and fraud were arrested last week at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry, federal officials said Tuesday.

The arrests were made by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers during routine border-enforcement operations from May 17 through Saturday, said Angelica De Cima, a CBP spokeswoman.

The fugitives were wanted on local, state or federal felony warrants, De Cima said.

Among those arrested was a 24-year-old man wanted on suspicion of attempted murder by the Monterey County Sheriff's Office. He came through the Otay Mesa border station Wednesday afternoon, De Cima said.

Authorities also arrested 16 people on suspicion of immigration-law violations during the seven-day period, the spokeswoman said. Eight people were charged with alien smuggling, and eight others with criminal backgrounds were arrested on suspicion of trying to re-enter the country after being deported, De Cima said.

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Encinitas, CA. - A collaborative effort between U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department prevented a maritime smuggling attempt early this morning at the Encinitas coastline.

At about 5:20 a.m., Sheriff’s Deputies and U.S. Border Patrol agents responded to an area near Swami’s Beach after receiving a report of several individuals getting off of a boat that had just come ashore. A total of 16 males and six females were found scattered in the nearby brush. The individuals were determined to be Mexican nationals illegally in the country.

By the time law enforcement personnel arrived to the scene, the suspected smuggling boat had returned to sea. The U.S. Coast Guard and CBP Air and Marine Interdiction agents were immediately notified and began a search for the boat. A CBP aircraft soon located the 30-foot Panga as it was traveling southbound. The boat was then stopped by CBP Marine Interdiction agents about five miles west of the coastline at Point Loma. Two male Mexican nationals aboard the boat were arrested.

The entire group of Mexican nationals is currently being detained by the U.S. Border Patrol. The two men who were found aboard the boat are facing charges for alien smuggling. Agents also discovered that safety vests were not available or used during this smuggling incident.

This coordinated, multi-agency effort demonstrates enhanced response capabilities to maintain a bolstered enforcement posture along the coastal border in the San Diego region.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection