Coast Guard Stops Boat Carrying 11 People Following Pursuit Off San Diego

SAN DIEGO, CA — The U.S. Coast Guard stopped a boat carrying 11 people Sunday off the coast of Point Loma, officials announced Wednesday.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Benjamin Bottom detained the group at 5:40 p.m. following a brief sea pursuit, according to the Coast Guard.

While patrolling the waters, the Benjamin Bottoms crew members detected a 26-foot cuddy cabin-style vessel at 5:20 p.m. about 23 miles west of Point Loma, according to the Coast Guard. The cutter's boarding team attempted to stop the boat, leading to a pursuit when the vessel tried to flee. The boarding team fired rounds into the vessel's engine to stop it from escaping.

Crew members detained the people onboard and transferred them to a Coast Guard Station San Diego boat crew, which then transported them to another Department of Homeland Security agency at Ballast Point for further investigation. Authorities said all 11 adults claimed Mexican nationality.

There were no reported injuries to the crew members or the suspects, officials said.