Coast Guard officers fired four rounds into the engine of a human smuggling boat near San Diego after the vessel ignored verbal commands and warning shots, showing the increasingly aggressive tactics needed to combat maritime illegal immigration.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Coast Guard disabled a human smuggling vessel near Point Loma on May 10, 2025, after it failed to respond to verbal warnings.
- Eight illegal immigrants were apprehended, including five men, one woman, and two teenage boys aged 16 and 17.
- From May 4-10, the Coast Guard intercepted 11 vessels involved in illegal smuggling, capturing 37 illegal immigrants.
- Maritime smuggling has intensified off San Diego’s coast as smugglers seek to bypass strengthened land border security.
- Several recent incidents have turned deadly, including a May 5 boat capsizing that killed three people near Del Mar.
Coast Guard Forced to Disable Fleeing Smuggling Vessel
In a dramatic confrontation highlighting the ongoing crisis at our southern maritime border, U.S. Coast Guard officers were forced to fire upon and disable a human smuggling vessel off the coast of San Diego on May 10. The incident occurred approximately two miles south of Point Loma when Coast Guard personnel spotted an 18-foot cuddy cabin vessel traveling at high speed into San Diego Bay. After the vessel failed to respond to verbal commands and warning shots, Coast Guard personnel took decisive action, firing four rounds into the boat’s engine to disable it.
Upon boarding the vessel, authorities discovered eight illegal immigrants aboard: five adult males, one adult female, and two teenage boys aged 16 and 17. All occupants were transported to Ballast Point and handed over to the Department of Homeland Security for processing. This incident represents just one episode in an escalating pattern of maritime smuggling attempts along California’s southern coastline that has forced law enforcement to adopt increasingly aggressive interdiction tactics Stated by, San Diego
Wave of Maritime Smuggling Operations
The May 10 interdiction was not an isolated incident. Just days earlier, the Coast Guard Cutter Terrell Horne intercepted another vessel – a 20-foot pleasure craft carrying three undocumented migrants – during a routine security boarding approximately two miles south of Point Loma. That vessel had no registration or documentation, and the occupants lacked authorization to be in the United States. Additionally, early Sunday morning before the May 10 incident, Border Patrol agents apprehended nine people suspected of being undocumented migrants after their boat washed ashore in La Jolla.
The Coast Guard’s San Diego unit has been extraordinarily busy combating this maritime invasion. In just the week spanning from May 4 to May 10, the unit intercepted 11 vessels involved in illegal smuggling operations, apprehending a total of 37 illegal immigrants attempting to enter the country unlawfully. The previous weekend alone saw the rescue of three boats involved in human smuggling, with 18 illegal immigrants taken into custody.
Deadly Consequences of Maritime Smuggling
The surge in maritime smuggling attempts has produced deadly consequences. Just days before the Point Loma incident, on May 5, three people died and four were injured when a smuggling vessel capsized near Del Mar. These tragedies underscore the extraordinary dangers posed by human smuggling operations that prioritize profit over human life, cramming desperate migrants into unseaworthy vessels without proper safety equipment.
The waters off San Diego have become a hotspot for human smuggling operations precisely because President Trump’s administration has tightened security along the land border. As traditional crossing points become more difficult to penetrate, smuggling cartels have adapted by turning to the sea, despite the increased risks. Border Patrol has reported encounters with approximately 45,400 illegal immigrants in the San Diego sector since October, with a significant portion attempting maritime entry.
Border Security Challenges Continue
The recent string of maritime interdictions highlights the persistent challenges facing American border security forces. Despite the Coast Guard’s valiant efforts, smugglers continue attempting to exploit maritime routes into the United States. The necessity of firing upon vessels that refuse to comply with lawful orders demonstrates the increasingly confrontational nature of these encounters and the determination of smugglers to complete their illegal operations regardless of the risks to themselves or their human cargo Stated by, Del Mar
The Coast Guard has issued stern warnings about the dangers of illegal maritime smuggling, emphasizing that smugglers care only about profit, not passenger safety. These criminals routinely overload vessels, operate in dangerous sea conditions, and lack basic safety equipment. The May 10 incident, which thankfully ended without casualties, could easily have resulted in another tragedy similar to the deadly Del Mar capsizing just days earlier.
Ongoing Enforcement Operations
Coast Guard officials have reaffirmed their commitment to intercepting illegal maritime smuggling operations despite the increasing challenges. The coordinated efforts between the Coast Guard, Border Patrol, and other Department of Homeland Security agencies demonstrate the multi-faceted approach necessary to combat the evolving tactics of smuggling organizations. The successful interdiction on May 10 represents both a tactical victory and a sobering reminder of the ongoing crisis requiring continued vigilance and enforcement.
As smugglers grow more desperate and reckless in their attempts to circumvent border security measures, the Coast Guard and partner agencies remain steadfast in their mission to enforce immigration laws and protect both national security and the lives of those being trafficked. The decision to disable the vessel on May 10 reflects the difficult but necessary measures law enforcement personnel must sometimes take when facing non-compliant vessels engaged in illegal activity in American waters Stated by, Coast Guard San
