CBP widens maritime enforcement zone to 24 nautical miles in four key U.S. regions

CBP announced the establishment of four new Customs Enforcement Areas, extending its enforcement boundary from 12 to 24 nautical miles in waters adjacent to South Florida, Southern California, Puerto Rico and the Texas Gulf Coast. The agency says smugglers have been exploiting the former limit by transferring cargo beyond the 12-mile line and landing it on remote shores. By aligning its authority with the 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone, CBP aims to disrupt those tactics.

Air and Marine Operations will work alongside Coast Guard crews and other federal entities to locate and stop vessels linked to cartels, foreign terrorist organizations and other criminal groups. The expansion implements directives from two presidential executive orders on border security and follows recent operations that intercepted illegal migrants and seized drugs in the Gulf, Caribbean and Pacific regions.