A Bahamian and a Dominican Republic national were among four men charged in connection with an alien smuggling operation that led to a high-speed maritime chase off the coast of Miami-Dade County.

According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the incident unfolded on March 11 when law enforcement intercepted a vessel carrying undocumented migrants heading towards the United States. The boat, operated by 26-year-old Theron Don Mills of The Bahamas, was initially detected about 21 miles east of Miami-Dade County and travelling toward shore.

Officials said a Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations unit later located the vessel approximately two miles offshore shortly before midnight. When officers attempted to stop the boat using lights and sirens, it fled, triggering a pursuit.

Authorities discharged warning shots, but the vessel continued to evade capture. Law enforcement then fired disabling rounds into the engine, bringing the boat to a halt.

Fifteen undocumented migrants were found onboard the small vessel and were transferred to a U.S. Coast Guard cutter for processing.

Investigations revealed that Mills, along with Oswaldo Sisa Heredia, 39, of Ecuador, and Dominican Republic nationals Joel Perez-Matos, 41, and Pablo Antonio Alvarez Rodriguez, 33, had previously been deported from the United States.

All four men have been charged with illegal re-entry of a deported alien. Mills faces an additional charge of encouraging and inducing illegal entry into the United States due to his role as the vessel’s operator.

If convicted, Mills could face up to 5 years in prison on the smuggling-related charge, while each of the accused faces up to 2 years for illegal re-entry.

The remaining 11 migrants were not charged and were repatriated to The Bahamas.

The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with support from Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard.