SEE IT: Chinese nationals intercepted in ‘extremely dangerous’ infiltration attempt near Florida coast
Migrant Vessel Intercepted off Key Largo; 22 Illegal Immigrants Seized
A 27‑foot smuggling boat was seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Coast Guard on Tuesday off the coast of Angelfish Creek, near Key Largo, Florida. The vessel was carrying 22 undocumented migrants, the majority of whom were Chinese nationals, and a suspected smuggler who was also taken into custody.
The interdiction began when a CBP Air and Marine Operations aircraft spotted the small cuddy‑cabin craft drifting in the Atlantic. CBP agents and Coast Guard personnel quickly boarded the vessel. No violence was reported; all migrants were arrested without incident and were transferred to the Coast Guard cutter Pablo Valent for processing.
Among the 22 migrants were 13 Chinese nationals, eight Ecuadorian nationals, and one Dominican national. A Cuban national, suspected of acting as a smuggler, was also apprehended. CBP officials said the boat had been attempting to reach the United States via the Caribbean maritime corridor, a route typically used by Haitians, Dominicans and Cubans. They noted that Chinese immigrants have historically entered the U.S. through land routes in California and Texas, and that their presence on a sea smuggling vessel is rare.
“Attempting to enter the United States illegally by sea is extremely dangerous and will not go undetected,” said Andres Blanco, executive director of CBP’s Air and Marine Operations Southeast Region. “This interdiction demonstrates the strength of our maritime partnerships and our commitment to stopping human smuggling organizations before they can put more lives at risk.” Blanco added that those who undertake these perilous voyages face arrest, prosecution, removal and the very real danger of losing their lives at sea.
Coast Guard Lt. Corryn Ulrich, commanding officer of the Pablo Valent, said that “the U.S. border remains secure due to highly capable teams and coordinated interagency enforcement.” She emphasized that the Coast Guard “remains ready to save lives and enforce federal law at sea.”
The vessel itself was seized and taken by CBP for further examination. The migrants are now in federal custody and are being processed under removal proceedings.
The interdiction underscores the ongoing effort by U.S. agencies to counter maritime smuggling operations in the Caribbean. CBP’s Air and Marine Operations unit was specifically created to anticipate and confront aviation and maritime threats to the nation’s integrity.
While the incident was confined to Florida waters, it highlights the broader challenges of immigration enforcement across all borders. The event comes as U.S. officials continue to tighten enforcement along land corridors in the Southwest and along the Atlantic coast, as part of a broader strategy to deter illegal entry and human smuggling.
The case adds to a series of recent high‑profile maritime interdictions and illustrates the continued cooperation between CBP and the Coast Guard in safeguarding U.S. borders.