The US Coast Guard and partner agencies interdicted and detained 13 Mexican fishermen engaged in illegal fishing and seized approximately 1,500 pounds (680 kg) of fish in federal waters off southern Texas on Friday, June 13.
A Coast Guard Station South Padre Island boat crew in coordination with US Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, the coast guard fast response cutter USCGC Daniel Tarr, Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi Command Center watchstanders, and Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi aircrews detected and interdicted a total of 13 Mexican fishermen engaged in illegal fishing north of the so-called maritime boundary line in the Gulf of America.
After interdicting the lanchas, the coast guard crews took the fishermen into custody, brought them ashore, and transferred them to US Homeland Security Investigations personnel for processing.
Coast guard personnel also seized approximately 1,500 pounds of red snapper, along with fishing gear and equipment found on board the vessels.
The coast guard said the illegal harvest and trade of red snapper and other fish species is often a revenue stream for criminal organisations.
Apart from their use for illegal seafood harvesting in US waters, lanchas may also be used to move illicit drugs and aliens into the United States.