The accident happened off the coast of San Diego on Sunday morning, with all the crew of the 12-meter vessel jumping into the rough water as the boat fell apart, witnesses report.
“It was a smuggling boat. Customs is questioning a man we think was in charge. Smugglers don’t care about the people they exploit, all they care about is profit. They had insufficient security equipment and this ship was clearly heavily overcrowded, ”said Jeffery Stephenson of the US Customs Service.
Those on board were likely migrants trying to enter the United States illegally, Stephenson said.
Dive teams are still looking for possible victims in the vicinity of the incident.
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