The U.S. Coast Guard has detained another four Mexican fishers illegally harvesting red snapper in U.S. waters.
The Coast Guard has interdicted and detained more than 50 fishers from Mexico operating illegally in the United States’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Gulf of Mexico, currently referred to as the Gulf of America by the U.S. government. According to government officials, Mexican fishers frequently cross into U.S. waters in fast-moving small vessels called “lanchas” to catch fish, which are then brought back to Mexico for sale. In early May, a grand jury in Texas indicted four Mexican fishers on charges of illegally harvesting red snapper in U.S. waters. They face a sentence of up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of USD 250,000 (EUR 223,669).
On 22 May, the Coast Guard detected another illegal fishing expedition taking place north of the Maritime Boundary Line. Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Doyle interdicted the vessel, detaining the four-man crew and seizing 200 pounds of red snapper. The four fishers were brought back to shore and transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for processing.
In its announcement, the Coast Guard noted that illegal red snapper fishing has been connected to criminal organizations in Mexico.
“The illegal harvest and trade of red snapper and other fish species is often a revenue stream for criminal organizations,” the Coast Guard said in the statement. “Apart from their use for illegal seafood harvesting in U.S. waters, lanchas may also be used to move illicit drugs and aliens into the United States.”
In December 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned five Mexican individuals, alleging that they ran illegal red snapper fishing operations on behalf of the Gulf Cartel. According to U.S. authorities, the Gulf Cartel operates out of Playa Bagdad, a beach located in Mexico just south of Texas and close to where the Coast Guard keeps interdicting Mexican fishers.
