The Coast Guard interdicted four lanchas, detained 11 Mexican fishermen, and seized approximately 1,595 pounds of illegally caught red snapper and nine sharks in federal waters off southern Texas last Thursday.
Coast Guard Station South Padre Island boat crews in coordination with Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi Command Center watch standers, Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi aircrews, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection located and stopped a total of 11 Mexican fishermen engaged in illegal fishing north of the Maritime Boundary Line.
After interdicting the lanchas, Coast Guard personnel seized approximately 1,595 pounds of red snapper and nine sharks, along with fishing gear and highflyers on board the vessel. Coast Guard crews took the men into custody, brought them ashore and transferred them to U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel for further processing.
“Our crews will not pull back from efforts to end illegal fishing and trafficking of valuable natural resources on the maritime border. We remain committed to enforcing the laws of this nation,” said Lt. Shane Gunderson, commanding officer, Station South Padre Island. “Whether on the southern border or along the maritime boundary line in the Gulf of America, the Coast Guard will detect, deter, and interdict illicit activity that threatens our nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The original announcement can be found here.