The San Diego Sector of the Border Patrol held a two-hour townhall meeting Thursday night at the Coronado Library to update residents on the continuing threats from smuggling boats landing on local beaches.
Mexican smugglers from Baja have occasionally tried to smuggle aliens and drugs into Southern California by sea for many years, but the beach landings increased dramatically beginning in 2008 when the 15-mile San Diego double border fence was completed and more agents were brought in to guard it.
The meeting was led by acting Sector Chief Rodney Scott, a 19-year Border Patrol veteran, who recalled starting out as a young patrol agent in San Diego in the early 90’s and dealing with the nightly “banzai runs” across the border where dozens or sometimes hundreds of illegal aliens would rush across the border on foot, knowing that the few agents on duty could only catch a few of them. He said the San Diego border back then was “pure chaos”.
Scott said the 60-mile San Diego Sector border has gone from 550,000 apprehensions per year in the 90’s down to about 42,000 per year now. He said San Diego is now one of the most secure sectors on the 2000 mile border with Mexico. There are 2600 Border Patrol agents assigned to the San Diego Sector.
The three main cross-border threats now in San Diego County are smuggling boats, tunnels, and ultra-light aircraft. Ultra-lights are a new way for drug smugglers to fly low across the border, drop their drug load from the air for couriers on the U.S. side, and then quickly fly back to the Mexican side. He said residents in the east county should be alert for what sounds like ‘flying lawn-mowers’ and call Border Patrol if they hear anything suspicious, especially at night. Ultra-lights can carry up to 250 lbs. of marijuana per flight.
The main topic of the briefing was the boat smuggling which has been impacting Coronado and most other county beaches. Many coastal residents are worried about smugglers and aliens running through their properties in the early morning hours after coming ashore.
Chief Scott said that over the past 3 years the Border Patrol has been installing surveillance (cameras) along the coastline and forming alliances with over a dozen other federal and local agencies to increase detection of smuggling boats, both in the ocean and on the coast.
The boat of choice for the Mexican smugglers is a crude fishing boat with an outboard motor called a “panga”, which can hold 25-30 people or large loads of drugs.
From 2008-2010 authorities seized 190 vessels and arrested 1500 “sea aliens”. So far in FY 2011 the Border Patrol has seized 61 vessels and 430 sea aliens.
Starting about 3 months ago, the Border Patrol got permission from the U.S. Attorney in San Diego to formally deport all aliens who enter the U.S. by sea, instead of the usual “voluntary return”. Being deported is a much more severe penalty since the aliens are subject to prosecution and prison if they are caught re-entering the U.S. Since the program started, only 2 aliens have tried to return after being deported. Chief Scott hopes the new penalties are deterring many would-be crossers. All smugglers captured are still being charged and prosecuted for that crime.
These sea smuggling operations seem unorganized, but are actually very sophisticated with cartel and gang member spotters and guides onshore guiding the boats to the beach and into waiting transport vehicles. The sea smugglers and their shore guides are using cell phones, night vision binoculars, GPS, and 2-way radios.
The boat smugglers normally charge $6000-$7000 for the 8-18 hour dangerous journey from one of the harbors in Northern Baja. They typically travel 20-40 miles out to sea, head north, and then back in to a pre-determined Southern California beach. Boats have recently landed as far north as Los Angeles and Oxnard.
Chief Scott advised coastal residents to report any suspicious vehicles or activity near the coast, especially during the prime hours of boat landings from 10pm-6am.
The meeting was attended by about 60 concerned Coronado residents along with a couple of reporters. Only one Mexican activist attended, Enrique Morones, but he sat quietly during the entire presentation and lengthy Q&A session. The usually belligerent antagonist of law enforcers must have realized he was in very unfriendly territory for his normal race-based, pro-alien propaganda and rhetoric.
The residents were all extremely supportive of the Border Patrol and repeatedly expressed their gratitude for all they do to guard San Diego’s border and beaches, and keeping the criminals, terrorists, and aliens out of our communities.
Scott said tips from citizens are still a crucial source of information to catch the smugglers.
All coastal residents should enter the phone number to the Joint Harbor Operations Center into their phones. 1-800-854-9834 or 619-278-7033 to report suspicious activity.
Chief Scott promised to hold more town hall meetings in San Diego County so that more citizens can come out and interact with our front-line defenders and find out what is really going on with the threats to our communities.
The local media filters and blocks from the public much of what the Border Patrol and ICE are doing to combat the daily incursions from Mexico.
Questions? Comments? JeffSchwilk@cox.net 760-525-1655
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