ST. THOMAS — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) Interdiction Agents on Wednesday found two Haitian immigrants on board a dinghy near Charlotte Amalie, according to a release issued Thursday.
“AMO crews spend many hours patrolling the Caribbean region to discover any smuggling ventures into this US territory,” said Johnny Morales, director of air operations.
According to the release, on Sept. 12, an AMO crew stopped a dinghy underway with four individuals near the Charlotte Amalie waterfront to conduct document checks authorized under 19 U.S.C. 1581. Two of the four subjects stated they were not United States Citizens and failed to produce any identification. They were taken to a CBP Field Operations facility where they claimed to be Haitian nationals.
Both immigrants were processed under federal immigration law.
AMO is a federal law enforcement organization dedicated to serving and protecting the American people through advanced aeronautical and maritime capabilities. With approximately 1,800 federal agents and mission support personnel, 240 aircraft, and 300 marine vessels operating throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands, AMO conducts its mission in the air and maritime environments at and beyond the border, and within the nation’s interior.