16 US Marines Arrested For People Smuggling

Stock image of the US Marine Corps in the Middle East (Picture: US Marines).

16 US Marines have been arrested for their alleged involvement in various illegal activities.

The men have been accused of a range of crimes from people smuggling to drug-related offences, the Marine Corps said.

The arrests took place on Thursday morning at Camp Pendleton, California, during a battalion formation.

"Information gained from a previous human smuggling investigation precipitated the arrests," the statement from the Marine Corps said.

A further eight Marines were also questioned with regards their involvement in alleged drug offences not related to the Thursday arrests.

Earlier in July, two Marines from Camp Pendleton were charged with transporting undocumented immigrants for financial gain.

Two Lance Corporals were arrested after their vehicle was pulled over by Border Patrol agents.

There were three passengers in the back of the vehicle they were driving.

The Lance Corporals told the agent they were Mexican citizens, had no immigration papers and were not permitted to enter the United States, according to the complaint.

Two of the migrants said they were planning to pay $8,000 (£6,400) to be smuggled into the country, the complaint says. One planned on travelling to Los Angeles, the other to New Jersey.