Special agent reveals how 14 tried to sneak to Guam

A special agent with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has disclosed how their investigation led to the recent interception of a boat loaded with 14 “stowaway” Chinese who were bound for the U.S. Territory of Guam.

Special Agent Michael Hernandez revealed that on Dec. 1, 2005, he received information from a confidential source that a certain Chinese national was recruiting other Chinese for a boat trip to Guam from Saipan for $3,000 per passenger.

Another confidential source disclosed that one Xu Wang Zheng was attempting to purchase a 21-foot boat named M/V Trophy, for use in that Guam trip, said Hernandez in his declaration filed in federal court in support of a complaint filed against Xu and 13 other “stowaways.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office charged the 14 with attempted improper entry by an alien before the U.S. District Court on Thursday.

Hernandez said the second confidential source informed him that the purchasers intended to use the boat for a trip from Saipan to Guam.

The special agent said he, along with agents of the Coast Guard Investigative Service and CNMI Attorney General Investigative Unit, began conducting surveillance of the boat on Dec. 2.

Over the next four days, he said, they observed several Chinese nationals making repairs to the boat, fueling it and moving it from Sugar Dock to Smiling Cove and back to Sugar Dock.

Hernandez said that on Dec. 6, at 6:50am, agents observed the boat heading south from Saipan with numerous people aboard, so they alerted the Coast Guard.

At 2:29pm on the same day, the Coast Guard intercepted the boat approximately 11 nautical miles north of Rota heading south.

Hernandez said aboard the board were Xu and the 13 other defendants.

When intercepted, Xu identified himself as the master of the Trophy, while co-defendant Yang Yi Gen said he was a crew, according to Hernandez.

Yang claimed that the passengers were on a fishing daytrip.

But based on the items recovered from the boat, the passengers of the Trophy were not fishing but actually attempting illegally to enter the U.S., the special agents said.

On Dec. 7, local immigration agents brought the 14 to the Superior Court for deportation proceedings.

Immigration and Labor records show that the respondents used to work on Saipan as farmers, managers, garment workers, carpenters, and physical therapists. Most of them have expired work permits.