U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice that, effective Aug. 25, established four customs enforcement areas that expand CBP’s enforcement jurisdiction from 12 to 24 nautical miles in designated waters adjacent to South Florida, Southern California, Puerto Rico, and the Gulf Coast of Texas.
A CBP press release explains that smuggling organizations have “exploited the outer edge of traditional customs waters by positioning vessels beyond the 12 nautical mile boundary, transferring illicit cargo at sea, and coordinating landings along remote shorelines.”
In response, consistent with a June 2026 executive order directing CBP to bolster enforcement of customs laws, the new designations “provide more consistent customs enforcement authority across these waters and support the investigation and prosecution of maritime smugglers.” Among other things, customs officers and agents are now able to board vessels within the CEAs to examine manifests and other documents and papers and to examine, inspect, and search vessels and cargo on board. They also may pursue and seize or arrest and otherwise enforce upon any vessel, merchandise, or person in the CEA in accordance with applicable U.S. laws and regulations in the same manner they are authorized to do at any place in the U.S.
CBP acknowledges that such enforcement activity may in some cases result in “limited operational impacts,” including delay, to vessel owners, operators, passengers, and cargo interests.
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