“Human smuggling is a dangerous, multi-billion dollar criminal enterprise that puts those involved at significant risk,” said Wayne Wills, the special agent in charge who oversees ICE investigative activities in Hawaii, Guam and the CNMI, in an e-mail to the Variety.
On Tuesday, 24 Chinese nationals were arrested while trying to enter Guam through a boat from Saipan.
“ICE is committed to working with its partners in local law enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice to not only disrupt this kind of activity, but to identify and dismantle the criminal organizations behind it,” Wills added.
In a separate interview, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Schuler said the 24 Chinese nationals were arrested before the boat sailed off.
The arrest was made “to minimize injuries,” Schuler said.
He said a “substantial amount of money” was involved in the foiled human smuggling.
At least two ring leaders, also Chinese nationals, were identified behind the attempted entry to Guam.
The 24 defendants — 18 males and six females — are under the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Their jury trial starts on Feb. 22.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex Munson has denied bail for the defendants who all pleaded not guilty.
But the court will be entertaining motions for bail modification.
According to its Web site, ICE has a broad range of law enforcement authorities, with responsibility for enforcing more than 400 federal statutes related to national security and public safety.
ICE is the largest investigative agency in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
It said it “combines innovative investigative techniques, new technological resources and a high level of professionalism to provide a wide range of resources to the public and federal, state and local law enforcement partners.”
