Thread: Panga seized with $925,000 of pot

Panga seized with $925,000 of pot

By Susan Shroder
5:47 p.m., June 13, 2011

Agents found 21 bundles of marijuana on a panga boat. U.S. Border Patrol photo

U.S. Border Patrol agents seized marijuana with an estimated street value of $925,000 on a boat at San Onofre State Beach, federal officials said Monday.

The boat, a panga commonly used in Mexico for fishing, was spotted about 4 a.m. Saturday by the California National Guard. It was traveling without navigation lights along the coast near Camp Pendleton with three people onboard.

The boat was followed, and when it landed on shore, the agents arrested three men, all Mexican citizens. They found 21 bundles of marijuana weighing 1,543 pounds, said Border Patrol Agent Rodolfo Zúñiga.

susan.shroder@uniontrib.com • (619) 293-1876

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011 ... 00-of-pot/

National Guard, Border Patrol Intercepts Boatload of Pot near San Onofre

Jun 13, 2011

U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested three male Mexican nationals near San Onofre State Beach Saturday morning for smuggling more than 1,500 pounds of marijuana inside a panga-style boat.

About 4 a.m., California National Guardsmen, in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, spotted a boat with three individuals on board traveling without navigation lights along the San Diego County coastline near Camp Pendleton, authorities said.

Agents and Guardsmen continued to monitor the boat until the vessel landed near San Onofre State Beach about an hour later.

Agents arrested the three men, who were in the country illegally as they were unloading 21 bundles of marijuana with a total weight of 1,543.04 pounds and an estimated street value of $925,821.60.

The men, the drugs and the vessel were turned over to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement led Marine Task Force for further investigation.

Authorities ask anyone who spots anything suspicious along the coast to call the Joint Harbor Operations Center at 1.800.854.9834.

www.sanclementetimes.com