Boat possibly used for smuggling found in OB

By Gustavo Solis
11:04 a.m., July 25, 2011

OCEAN BEACH — Border Patrol agents and San Diego lifeguards are investigating a suspicious boat found on the shore of Ocean Beach Monday morning.

An empty 18-foot bayliner was found about 6 a.m. on Dog Beach just west of Lifeguard Tower 4, said Border Patrol spokesman Mike Jimenez. Border Patrol agents also found two life vests, two empty gasoline cans and four sets of footprints near the boat.

A San Diego police dog searched the boat for drugs but found none, Jimenez said.

Even though smugglers typically use smaller fishing boats, the life vests, empty cans and footprints suggest this was a human smuggling operation, Jimenez said.

gustavo.solis@uniontrib.com • (619) 293-1546

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