13 Individuals Detained After CBP Interdicts Panga Boat Off San Diego Coast Using Disabling Fire

San Diego, CA – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) successfully interdicted a non-compliant 30-foot panga boat off the coast of San Diego on Sunday night, resulting in the detention of 13 individuals. The operation, led by the San Diego Air and Marine Branch, required the use of disabling fire to stop the vessel after it failed to comply with orders to heave to.

Jonathan Miller, Executive Assistant Commissioner for AMO, announced the interdiction via social media, stating: > "WATCH🚨13 illegal aliens in Federal Custody! Sunday night our @CBP San Diego Air and Marine Branch targeted and interdicted a non compliant 30'panga off the coast of San Diego. Disabling fire was needed to stop the vessel that failed to heave. We will not back down to smugglers!"

Panga boats are frequently utilized by transnational criminal organizations for smuggling narcotics and individuals into the U.S. along the California coast. These vessels are often overloaded, lack proper safety equipment, and present significant risks to those on board. CBP officials routinely highlight the inherent dangers of these maritime smuggling attempts.

The use of disabling fire by CBP is a measure classified as less-lethal force, authorized in maritime law enforcement operations when a non-compliant vessel fails to stop after all other available signaling methods have been exhausted. This protocol is part of CBP's broader use of force policy, which emphasizes objective reasonableness and the safety of all involved.

The San Diego Air and Marine Branch is a critical component of CBP's Southwest Region operations, responsible for defending the international land and sea border from illegal crossings and contraband smuggling. Their mission involves leveraging advanced aeronautical and maritime capabilities to detect and interdict dangerous smuggling attempts.

All 13 individuals found on the vessel were taken into federal custody for processing. The interdiction underscores the ongoing efforts by CBP to combat maritime smuggling and secure the nation's borders, particularly in the active San Diego coastal region.