U.S. Coast Guard, Mexican Navy Deter Suspected Smuggling Vessel Off San Diego

SAN DIEGO, CA — Crews from the U.S Coast Guard and the Mexican Navy worked together to deter a suspected maritime smuggling attempt off the coast of San Diego, authorities said Tuesday.

The crew of Cutter Robert Ward detected an unidentified vessel entering U.S. territorial waters from Mexico around 4 p.m. Sunday about 11 miles southwest of Point Loma, according to the Coast Guard.

As Cutter Robert Ward prepared to deploy a small boat to conduct a boarding, the suspected smuggling vessel reversed course and fled south at high speed, officials said.

Cutter Robert Ward provided a description of the suspect vessel to the Mexican Navy vessel ARM Revolución, which was operating nearby. Personnel aboard Revolución found, stopped and conducted a boarding of the roughly 24-foot center-console vessel with four people aboard within Mexican territorial waters, according to the Coast Guard.

"The outcome of the boarding is unknown at this time; however, the coordinated effort between the U.S. Coast Guard and Mexican Navy successfully deterred a potential smuggling venture and underscored the value of international maritime cooperation in combating transnational criminal activity," officials said in a news release.