Three Mexican pot smugglers arrested on Malibu beach, police say

January 29, 2012 | 8:40am

Authorities arrested three Mexican nationals and seized an estimated 1,200 to 1,500 pounds of marijuana from a Mexican panga boat beached in Malibu's Pirate's Cove on Saturday. A fourth suspect apparently escaped.

The three suspects were arrested after a search of the upscale beach area. Officials called off the search after determining that the fourth suspect somehow got away amid the mansions along Cliffside Drive in Malibu's exclusive Point Dume community.

The panga boat was spotted off Point Dume about 1 a.m. Saturday, said Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Lori K. Haley. Border Patrol agents and sheriff's deputies were the first to respond.

Authorities have intercepted half a dozen boats attempting to smuggle drugs into Los Angeles and Orange counties since last summer.

Three Mexican pot smugglers arrested on Malibu beach, police say - latimes.com