Some recent examples of smuggling illegal immigrants on Southern California’s coast

Some examples of smuggling on California coast

Migrants are increasingly looking to the Pacific Ocean to enter the United States illegally from Mexico. Marijuana is also being smuggled. Some recent examples, from Department of Homeland Security officials and court records:

—An 18-year-old Guatemalan woman and 34-year-old Mexican man die after their boat overturns in the surf at Torrey Pines State Beach in San Diego on Jan. 16 at 4:15 a.m. Two illegal immigrants from Mexico who allegedly drove the boat are charged with smuggling, including one who told authorities he was to be paid $2,000 for his work.

—Border Patrol agents on horseback arrested four passengers who were dropped on a beach near the San Onofre nuclear power plant, less than an hour before dawn April 14. The driver fled south by boat to Camp Pendleton, but authorities were hot on his trail and arrested 19 others upon landing. All 23 were found to be illegal immigrants from Mexico, including two who were charged with smuggling.

—Coast Guard agents find 394 pounds of marijuana in cellophane-wrapped packages aboard a 23-foot Wellcraft that had run out of gas and was adrift near San Diego April 19 at 2 a.m. Two U.S. citizens aboard are charged with drug smuggling after authorities determine they traveled from Ensenada, Mexico.

—Twenty illegal immigrants from Mexico, one from Guatemala and one from Colombia are arrested at 3:30 a.m. July 16 when their boat landed at Camp Pendleton. Border Patrol agents on land had spotted the boat approaching shore.