SAN DIEGO: Federal authorities have charged five individuals in connection with a migrant smuggling attempt that ended in tragedy when a boat capsized off the San Diego coast on Monday, leaving three people dead, including a 14-year-old boy from India.
The boy’s 10-year-old sister remains missing and is presumed dead, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego. Their parents, among the four survivors hospitalized, include the father, who is currently in a coma.
The other two deceased victims were from Mexico: an 18-year-old male and another adult man, the Mexican consulate confirmed. The 18-year-old’s girlfriend, 16, is recovering in the hospital after suffering lung injuries due to water inhalation. The consulate is coordinating efforts to repatriate the victims’ bodies to Mexico.
Rescue operations were halted late Monday after search crews scoured the coastline. Authorities arrested two Mexican nationals on the beach shortly after the incident. They have been charged with human smuggling resulting in death—an offense punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Investigators also tracked three vehicles believed to have been waiting inland to transport the migrants. All three drivers, Mexican citizens, were arrested and charged with unlawfully transporting undocumented migrants.
The case highlights ongoing concerns over maritime smuggling routes near the U.S.-Mexico border and the rising risks faced by migrants seeking to enter the United States illegally.
