US Coast Guard crews rescued and subsequently interdicted 37 suspected aliens approximately 88 miles (140 kilometres) southwest of Channel Islands Harbor in California on Friday, August 28.
At approximately 15:40 local time, Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach watchstanders received a radio notification on VHF channel 16 from the operator of a 30-foot (nine-metre) pleasure craft located 88 miles offshore, reporting it was drifting without fuel, food or water for two days and lacked personal safety equipment.
Watchstanders diverted crews assigned to the coast guard Marine Protector-class patrol boats USCGC Sockeye and USCGC Halibut to respond.
At approximately 20:30, the coast guard crews located and boarded the vessel, identifying 37 suspected aliens aboard.
The coast guard crews rescued all individuals from the vessel and transferred them aboard Sockeye.
Sockeye’s crew transported the individuals to Coast Guard Base Los Angeles-Long Beach where they were transferred to US Border Patrol personnel.
Other responding units included Coast Guard Station Channel Islands and Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point.
The nationalities of the interdicted aliens have not been disclosed.
