The US Coast Guard detained 12 fishermen and seized hundreds of pounds of illegally captured fish and sharks off the coast of South Texas.
Authorities found the individuals illegally fishing on three lanchas north of the Maritime Boundary Line on Wednesday, according to a news statement.
According to the announcement, the US Coast Guard recovered around 850 pounds of shark and 550 pounds of red snapper from the fishermen.
The fishermen were apprehended and brought to US Customs and Border Protection for further processing.
Lanchas are infamous for delivering illegal drugs and fish near the United States-Mexico border. The boats are 20 to 30 feet long and have a slim profile, allowing them to cruise at speeds of up to 30 mph.
To report any unusual behavior offshore, call “Operation Game Thief” at 1-800-792-GAME or the United States Coast Guard at 361-939-0450.
