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(S//SI//REL) SIGINT Reporting Leads to Rescue at Sea of 128
Desperate Migrants
FROM:
Branch Chief, Human Smuggling (S2F23)
Run Date: 12/22/2006
(S//SI/REL) In October, SIGINT reporting alerted US officials to the plight of 128 Peruvian and
Chinese migrants adrift in the Pacific Ocean, setting the stage for an international rescue
operation. Events unfolded as follows:
(S//SI//REL) On 4 October 2006, ICN* Human Smuggling Branch analysts reported on a routine
maritime migrant event -- a human smuggler in Peru had sent a vessel from Lima, Peru en route
to Guatemala on 2 October filled with Chinese and Peruvian migrants. Events changed when, on
10 October, reports indicated that the migrant vessel was adrift in the Pacific Ocean, over 200
miles off the Costa Rican coast.
(S//SI//REL) The migrant smuggling network attempted to provide assistance, but either due to
weather conditions or the distance offshore, none of the supply vessels was able to help. Over
the next few days, conditions on the migrant vessel deteriorated significantly: there was no food
or water available to the Peruvian migrants, the Chinese were reportedly threatening the
Peruvians, and the captain was hitting some of the passengers.
(S//SI//REL) ICN analysts worked with CSG San Francisco to provide intelligence updates to the
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Pacific Area throughout the case. NSA approved the release of the
migrant vessel's position at the unclassified level, and the USCG in turn notified Costa Rican
authorities and merchant vessels in the area. Two merchant vessels responded to the notice,
but were unable to locate the migrant vessel. Following additional ICN reporting on 12 October
that identified the migrant boat as the Peruvian fishing vessel Nalu, a US Navy P-3 aircraft and
Costa Rican units conducted searches for the vessel.
(U//FOUO) The Nalu, used for human smuggling
(S//SI//REL) The Nalu was located on 12 October by Costa Rican patrol units with 128 migrants
on board (73 Chinese and 55 Peruvian) about 220 NM west of Costa Rica. The USCG Cutter
Boutwell was diverted from a narcotics patrol to assist in the case. While the Costa Rican Coast
Guard towed the Nalu back to Punta Arenas, Costa Rica, the Boutwell transported the migrants
(with Costa Rican authorities embarked to retain custody) to Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica.
According to foreign press, the Peruvian authorities flew all the migrants back to Peru on 17
October.
(U//FOUO) Nalu with Costa Rican Coast Guard vessel
(U) Subsequently, on 16 December, Peruvian press announced that Peruvian intelligence agents
captured at least six of the smugglers involved in the fishing vessel Nalu smuggling case during
operations conducted in Lima, Trujillo, and Chimbote, Peru.
(S//SI//REL) Congratulations to all who played a role in this success. Sole-source SIGINT
reporting in this case helped safeguard US borders, saved the migrants from a potentially dire
fate, and contributed to the arrest of human smugglers, putting them out of business.
(U//FOUO) Notes:
* ICN = International Crime and Narcotics (S2F)
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
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DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108