Last Friday, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) intercepted a boat attempting to smuggle four individuals into the country illegally.
HSI had been monitoring a boat from Cocoa and intercepted it outside the Sebastian Inlet, where the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office assisted. The boat and its passengers were transported to the Sebastian Yacht Club at 820 Indian River Drive in Sebastian.
In addition to apprehending the individuals in the country illegally, authorities seized the boat involved in the smuggling attempt. The individuals were turned over to Border Patrol custody. Their origins are unknown at this time.
One official told Sebastian Daily that the detained boat owner could be the same Brevard County man indicted earlier this year for a similar offense. In February 2024, the suspect was caught smuggling 25 illegal Haitians into the country through the Sebastian Inlet.
HSI has only released limited information regarding the operation. However, Sebastian Daily will provide updates as new information becomes available.
In an unrelated incident last Saturday, local police closed the boat ramp at the Sebastian Yacht Club due to a sunken vessel.
