This footage was filmed and produced 9 April 2024.

[Note: no sound]

In a coordinated effort to enforce maritime laws and safeguard marine resources, the vigilant crew of an HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane from Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi sprang into action on April 9, 2024. Their keen surveillance detected Mexican lancha crews engaging in illegal fishing activities north of the Maritime Boundary Line, just off the coast of Texas.

Responding swiftly to the intelligence gathered, a specialized team from Coast Guard Station South Padre Island, aboard a 33-foot Special Purpose Craft–Law Enforcement vessel, intercepted two lanchas involved in the illicit operation. In a decisive maneuver, they seized a substantial haul of 460 pounds of illegally caught red snapper, along with three sharks.

Moreover, the interception resulted in the apprehension of nine Mexican fishermen, who were promptly transferred into the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel for further legal proceedings. This collaborative effort underscores the Coast Guard's unwavering commitment to upholding maritime laws and protecting the precious marine ecosystem off the Texas coast.