The US Coast Guard (USCG) has interdicted two more lanchas in the Gulf of Mexico and arrested eight Mexican nationals, just weeks after stopping four lanchas and detaining 16 fishermen.
USCG crew members were in federal waters off southern Texas on Friday (March 28) when a USCG air team detected two lanchas that appeared to be engaged in illegal fishing inside the US maritime boundary line in the Gulf of Mexico, the agency said.
Lanchas, which are small fishing boats approximately 20-30 feet long, are frequently used by Mexican fishermen to engage in illegal fishing in the US exclusive economic zone near the US-Mexico border in the gulf, which the administration of US president Donald Trump has ordered now be called the Gulf of America.
The Coast Guard took the eight men into custody and transferred them to US Customs and Border Protection once they were on shore. The USCG also seized the lanchas, fishing gear and equipment found on the vessels, as well as approximately 150 pounds of red snapper.
The Coast Guard interdicted and detained 8 Mexican fishermen engaged in illegal fishing and seized approximately 150 pounds of fish in federal waters off southern Texas on March 28, 2025. Photo Credit: USCG
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