Today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported from its website that 19 illegal aliens attempted to enter the Dana Point coast on board a small boat. Although the news was released today, this occurred on Friday, August 7.

According to reports, around 12:40 a.m., a U.S. plane conducting surveillance detected a small, single-engine boat traveling north out of Mexican territorial waters. It was travelling without navigation lights on and, moreover, with several people on board.

The ship continued to move northward, toward U.S. territorial waters. The Navy crew continued to update the position, course and speed of the suspicious ship until they noticed that the ship would not retreat.

The San Diego Navy's reaction was to direct an Interceptor Vessel to the location of the boat where officers arrested 19 passengers. 18 were men and one older woman was also found. According to Timothy Sutherland, a Navy official:

"This interception exemplifies the unique air and sea coordination, surveillance and law enforcement capabilities of our highly trained agents to keep our coastal border secure."

The statement did not specify whether they were carrying any illegal substances, suggesting that their only intention was to cross into the United States.

With information from the CBP