Yacht Used to Smuggle Mexicans

(Corpus Christie, Texas) Federal agents and the Coast Guard caught a charter boat captain smuggling illegal aliens along the Texas Gulf Coast on a yacht named Poco Mas. Authorities believe it wasn't the first time. Arrested were six Mexicans, deck hand Baldemar Valadez Jr., and the captain, Mark Daniel Bryant.

From MSNBC.com:

A charter boat captain has been caught smuggling illegal immigrants up the Intracoastal Waterway. Federal agents learned of the scheme Sunday which began in South Padre Island and ended in Corpus Christi. A total of eight men are now in custody.

The six illegals not only didn't make it to freedom, they're also out $1,500 each according to immigrations officials. The owner of the boat, he could be out close to $400,000 which is the value of the boat he could soon lose, because it was used in the alleged crime.

Authorities said the six illegals first crossed the border near McAllen, then made their way to South Padre Island where they boarded the "Poca Mas" fishing yacht.

Notably, the six Mexicans were already in the U.S. after having crossed the border in McAllen. Their purpose in boarding the yacht at South Padre Island for a ride to Corpus Christie was to avoid inland Border Patrol checkpoints about 60 miles north of the border. I take this as an indication that the Border Patrol checkpoints are, to some degree, effective and more are likely needed.

Also noteworthy is the fact that the Mexicans were willing to place their fate in the hands of a smuggler at sea. Alonzo Pena of the San Antonio Immigration and Customs Enforcement office calls this an act of desperation since "Alien smugglers routinely demonstrate how little regard they have for their human cargo."