A large jury formally accused four Mexicans for charges related to illegal fishing, after supposedly spending about seven nautical miles north of the maritime border between the United States and Mexico, the immigration and customs control service (ICE) reported Thursday.
The case is the first in its processed type in the southern district of Texas.
Miguel Ángel Ramírez Vidal, 32; Jesús David Luna Márquez, 20; Jesús Roberto Morales Amador, 27; and José Daniel Santiago Mendoza, 22, were accused of “illegal transport of fish extracted from the Gulf of America” with the intention of being sold in Mexico, ICE explained in a statement.
According to the accusation, the crew of a small boat dedicated to fishing, composed of the four defendants, allegedly tried to transport and export approximately 315 kilograms of Wachinango (Lutjanus Campechanus) illegally extracted from US waters.
The Department of Justice alleges that the fishermen were seen seven miles north of the maritime border line between the United States and Mexico and 21 miles east of South Father Island (Texas).
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Supposedly, the crew fished with approximately four kilometers of thick nylon and 1,200 hooks.
The accusation also alleges that the fishermen were in a vessel without marks or registration, without a flag of any country and without circulation lights.
In addition, the federal authorities argue that no crew member had permission to fish in American waters, which violates the Federal Law.
If they are declared guilty, they face up to five years in federal prison and a possible maximum fine of $ 250,000.
With EFE information
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