Imperial Beach, Calif. - Seven Mexican nationals who attempted to illegally enter the country early Thursday morning were later arrested after the boat they were using overturned off of the Imperial Beach, Calif., coastline and they were found hiding at a near-by apartment complex.
A San Diego Sheriff's deputy responded to a 3 a.m. report of a group of individuals hiding near an apartment complex on Seacoast Drive. The deputy detained seven suspects wearing wet clothing until U.S. Border Patrol agents arrived to the scene.
The agents determined that the group, six men and one woman, were illegally smuggled into the country through the use of a boat. The group was transported to a local U.S. Border Patrol station for processing.
Shortly after the arrest, agents discovered an overturned 1978 Bayliner in the surf near Imperial Beach Boulevard. The abandoned vessel was seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Air and Marine.