The US Coast Guard interdicted and detained 12 Mexican fishermen engaged in illegal fishing and seized approximately 1,400 pounds (640 kg) of fish in federal waters off southern Texas on Monday, April 21.
The coast guard cutters Alert and Jacob Poroo, Coast Guard Station South Padre Island, and Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi crews, in coordination with Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi Command Center watchstanders, detected and interdicted a total of 12 Mexican fishermen engaged in illegal fishing north of the maritime boundary line in the Gulf of America on Monday.
After interdicting three lancha boats, coast guard crews took the fishermen into custody, brought them ashore, and transferred them to US Customs and Border Protection personnel for processing.
Coast Guard personnel also seized approximately 550 pounds (250 kg) of red snapper and 850 pounds (390 kg) of shark along with fishing gear and equipment found on board the vessels. The lanchas were seized/towed back to Station South Padre Island.
The illegal harvest and trade of red snapper and other fish species is often a revenue stream for criminal organisations.