THE U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations is now questioning for possible human smuggling violations the passengers and crew of a distressed 28-foot recreational vessel that was rescued by responders near Aguijan or Aguigan (Goat Island), the Department of Public Safety said on Monday.
On July 21, 2024, DPS Tinian received a report of a distressed vessel south of Goat Island.
“Officers from DPS Tinian initially launched their rescue boat but later returned to Tinian due to bad weather conditions that made visibility limited,” said Assistant Chief of Police Simon Manacop, the acting DPS public information officer.
“At around 1:30 p.m., DPS Saipan launched the Impact rescue vessel but also faced challenges in locating the distressed vessel due to the weather,” he added.
Manacop said through coordinated search and response efforts that included the U.S. Navy, a USN-Helicopter Sea Combat 25 spotted the distressed vessel and identified two male occupants on board who required medical assistance.
“Both males were transported to the Anderson Air Force Base in Guam and treated,” he said.
According to DPS, the U.S. Navy vessel and tugboat Triton later located the distressed vessel and transferred two males and 11 females onboard.
“They were then transported to Charlie Dock, Saipan,” Manacop said.
“On July 22 at about 5 a.m., the 13 occupants of the distressed vessel arrived at Charlie Dock, where they were transferred to the custody of personnel from U.S. Homeland Security Investigation, who are now investigating possible violations of human smuggling,” Manacop said.
DPS learned that, of the 15 occupants, there were three local males: the boat captain and two deck hand assistants. The other occupants were all Chinese nationals, one male and 11 females.
In a separate media release, U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam quoted search and rescue mission coordinator Lt. Chelsea Garcia as saying:
“We urge all mariners to avoid overloading their vessels and to always check weather conditions before setting out. These transits are extremely dangerous and put lives at significant risk. This is the third significant rescue of this type we’ve effected between Guam and the CNMI since January. While this case appears to involve the transit of foreign nationals from the CNMI, we cannot comment further on the ongoing law enforcement investigation.”
According to USCG, the 28-foot vessel remains adrift and is a potential hazard to navigation. It is not currently known how it became disabled and adrift.
