Border patrol rescued at least 23 illegal immigrants on board a suspected smuggling boat on the San Diego coast on Monday. A border patrol spokesman confirmed with Fox News that an agent from their department that operates a vehicle-based video surveillance system noticed a "panga type vessel" around 2:50 a.m.

Illegal Immigrants Rescued by Border Patrol

Onboard the panga style boat that was intercepted early Monday morning were 20 men and three women and was brought to the San Diego lifeguard headquarters. Border patrol agents determined that all 23 individuals were illegal immigrants. Border Patrol Supervisory Agent Jeffrey Stephenson confirmed that the 23 illegal immigrants were composed of 20 men from Mexico and three women from Guatemala.

As enforcements were heightened in borders, The San Deigo Union-Tribune noted there is an increase in illegal migrants turning to the sea to cross the U.S. border. A spokesman confirmed with Fox News that there is a 32 percent increase in maritime arrests during the Fiscal year 2020. The spokesman also underscored an increase in narcotics seizures through maritime smuggling events.

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How was the Suspected Smuggling Boat Discovered?

At around 2:50 a.m., a border patrol agent spotted the panga-style boat near the rocks off Sunset Cliffs Boulevard near Osprey Street. In response, the coastguard deployed a small boat and tried to get in contact with the suspect's smuggling boat. However, the operator of the vehicle did not respond and ignored their commands to stop.

It was reported that the panga style boat's engine stopped, and it drifted closer to the shore and was stuck in the surf line. Officials feared that the boat would capsize just like the boat earlier in May that resulted in the death of at least three immigrants. San Diego lifeguard and San Diego Police then arrived and pulled the panga-style boat ashore and removed the illegal immigrants inside the boat.

The panga-style boat was taken by the border patrol agents and an investigation is ongoing. Authorities did not further out the details about the operator of the panga-style boat that carried 23 illegal migrants on the coast of San Diego.

Smuggling Boat

The interception of the boat happened weeks after another smuggling boat was spotted in the San Diego Coast earlier in May, leaving three dead and 27 injured illegal migrants after it hit a reef near Point Loma, causing the passengers to jump off the boat. 

The San Diego Union-Tribune emphasized that the passengers on the said boat paid around $15,000 - $18,000 for the trip. The boat captain, Antonio Hurtado, was identified as a U.S. citizen and is charged with attempting to bring undocumented immigrants into the United States at a place other than a port of entry and assault of a federal officer.

READ MORE: Border Apprehensions Slightly Rise in April as Unaccompanied Minors Drop - CBP

WATCH: Border Patrol intercepts boat off San Diego coast carrying 23 illegal - from News Pilot