Federal agents arrested two dozen undocumented
immigrants and three suspected human smugglers after they landed today on a
North County beach in a fishing boat, authorities reported.
Border Patrol agents spotted the 30-foot vessel as it came ashore at Cardiff State Beach shortly before 1:30 a.m., according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection public affairs.
With help from sheriff's deputies, the federal personnel detained 19 men, three women and two teenage boys, ages 16 and 17, on the shoreline. All were in the county illegally, officials said.
Later in the morning, CBP marine-interdiction agents spotted the boat about two miles off the coast of Encinitas, stopped it and took the three men aboard into custody.
The suspects, Mexican nationals whose names were not immediately available, were expected to be charged with alien smuggling.
Border Patrol agents spotted the 30-foot vessel as it came ashore at Cardiff State Beach shortly before 1:30 a.m., according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection public affairs.
With help from sheriff's deputies, the federal personnel detained 19 men, three women and two teenage boys, ages 16 and 17, on the shoreline. All were in the county illegally, officials said.
Later in the morning, CBP marine-interdiction agents spotted the boat about two miles off the coast of Encinitas, stopped it and took the three men aboard into custody.
The suspects, Mexican nationals whose names were not immediately available, were expected to be charged with alien smuggling.
