Marijuana Smuggling Attempt Off Southern California Coastline

There have been empty panga boats found all over the California coast suspected of being used to help smuggle drugs. The latest find was just off the coast of San Diego.

Agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection stopped a panga boat Tuesday that agents said was being used to smuggle approximately 1,500 pounds of marijuana. Most of the panga boats that have been found on the Central Coast were already abandoned when they are found by law enforcement.

Agents spotted the boat approximately 95 miles west of San Diego. There was three people on board, multiple fuel cans, and a tarp covering much of the open hull on the fiberglass fishing boat, said customs agents involved in the bust.

Marine Interdiction Agents arrested arrested all three people on board. In total, officials seized 33 bundles of marijuana from the panga, with an estimated street value of $675,000, they said