The US Coast Guard and US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) Agents stopped 30 people from illegally entering the country by blocking two Mexican Cartel smuggling runs off the California coast during the past seven days. One of those smuggling attempts resulted in a man’s death.
On Wednesday, July 29, 2026, US Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach received a radio report from a boater reporting a suspected alien smuggling vessel near San Clemente Island. CBP Marine Interdiction Agents intercepted the boat 14 miles west of San Clemente and fired warning shots before its captain stopped.
The CBP Agents found 21 non-citizens aboard (including an adult woman and a juvenile boy). As they were joined by a Coast Guard boat, one of the adults went into cardiac arrest aboard the smuggling vessel. CPR was initiated, and a Coast Guard rescue helicopter was requested.
The victim was flown to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, where the man’s pulse was re-established, but he passed away a short time later.
Five of those taken into custody had prior convictions, including possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence, and fraud. Two had histories of violent offenses, including assault, domestic violence, resisting arrest, and an aggravated felony involving murder and sexual abuse of a minor.
All were transferred to the custody of the US Border Patrol. Homeland Security Investigators are looking into this deadly human smuggling case.
The second incident occurred on Saturday, August 1, 2026, near San Diego. The crew of a US Coast Guard Boat on a routine boating safety patrol encountered a 22-foot fiberglass “Seaswirl” fishing boat entering Mission Bay and hailed it to halt for inspection.
When they boarded it, they found nine non-citizens aboard. They were turned over to the Border Patrol for processing, and the boat was seized.
Are you surprised that cartel human smugglers are continuing to illegally bring people into the US by sea?
Share your opinion in a comment to this story!
Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
