The bottom line. CBP established four Customs-Enforcement Areas (CEAs) in near shore waters off South Florida, Central/Southern California, Puerto Rico, and the Texas Gulf Coast, extending customs enforcement authority from 12 to 24 nautical miles from baseline. The CEAs took effect August 25, 2026.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney S. Scott declared four Customs-Enforcement Areas (CEAs) in a Federal Register notice published August 25, 2026 (CBP Dec. No. 26-17). The action, issued under the Anti-Smuggling Act of 1935 (19 U.S.C. 1701), authorizes customs officers and agents to board vessels, examine merchandise and persons on board, bring vessels into port, and pursue, seize, and arrest individuals within the designated areas.
The CEAs cover waters off South Florida (Brevard County to Pasco County, including the Florida Keys), the Texas Gulf Coast (Sabine River to the Mexico maritime boundary), Central/Southern California (Año Nuevo Lighthouse to the Mexico boundary, including eight offshore islands), and Puerto Rico (including Mona, Desecheo, Vieques, and Culebra). Each area extends 24 nautical miles from baseline, within the statutory limits of 100 nautical miles from hovering vessels and 50 nautical miles beyond customs waters.
"The establishment of these CEAs is necessary to respond to the continuous and active threats presented by hovering vessels in those areas."
What the Rule Changes
Previously, CBP enforcement of applicable U.S. laws was generally limited to U.S. territorial and customs waters extending 12 nautical miles from baseline. The new CEAs extend enforcement authority to 24 nautical miles, aligning with the U.S. contiguous zone established by Proclamation No. 7219. Within the CEAs, customs officers may enforce 18 U.S.C. 2237 (covering failure to heave to, obstruction of boarding, and providing false information), section 581 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1581), and the Anti-Smuggling Act itself.
Enforcement Data Cited
CBP reported that over the last five years, Air and Marine Operations conducted numerous enforcement actions in the designated areas. In South Florida alone, CBP seized nearly 77,000 pounds of illegal narcotics, conducted 26,000 apprehensions of illegal aliens and smugglers, and performed 324 search and rescue operations. In Puerto Rico, CBP seized nearly 860,000 pounds of cocaine and conducted over 15,000 apprehensions. Across all four areas, 488 vessels were seized.
Operational Scope and Limits
The CEAs do not close waters to navigation, impose new reporting or permitting requirements, or require vessels to alter lawful routes. Vessels operating within the CEAs may be hailed, stopped, boarded, examined, searched, or brought into port as authorized by law. The declaration notes that customs officers are not authorized to enforce U.S. law upon foreign vessels in contravention of treaties, except as enabled by special arrangement with the foreign government.
What This Means Right Now
Vessels operating within 24 nautical miles of the designated coastlines may be subject to boarding and inspection by CBP officers without prior notice.
Smuggling vessels detected in the expanded zones may be pursued, seized, and their occupants arrested under 18 U.S.C. 2237 and related authorities.
Lawful commercial and recreational vessels generally face no new requirements, though individual encounters may result in temporary delays during enforcement operations.
The four CEAs operate independently; if one area is invalidated by a court, the remaining areas remain in effect.