Mexican Fishing Boat Seized Following 30-mile Chase

A Mexican fishing boat, also known as a lancha, was seized by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) in the waters off South Texas, Monday.

At 11 p.m. Sunday, an Air Station Corpus Christi aircrew aboard an HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane located a lancha 20 miles north of the U.S./Mexico maritime border and 30 miles offshore.

The aircrew vectored in the Coast Guard Cutter Seahawk and a 33-foot law enforcement boat from Station South Padre Island; the lancha was chased for 30 miles before it stopped south of the maritime border.

The lancha and four Mexican nationals were transferred to Station South Padre Island for processing. Illegal long line fishing gear was found aboard the vessel.

The master has a criminal record in the United States and has been previously caught fishing in U.S. waters, according to the USCG.

"When a vessel doesn't stop, it poses risk and injury to Coast Guard responders and the Mexican fisherman. Fortunately, no one was injured this time," said Cmdr. Daniel Deptula, the response officer at Sector Corpus Christi. 

Since Oct. 1, 2014, 166 lanchas have been detected and 27 lanchas have been seized in U.S. waters.