Teens intercepted in pot-laden boat

By Angelica Martinez
Union-Tribune Staff Writer
11:54 a.m. July 28, 2009

SAN DIEGO — Three teenagers aboard a boat were arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers who seized more than half a ton of marijuana concealed underneath the boat's deck, officials said Tuesday.

The 22-foot boat was spotted off the coast of San Diego heading north from Mexico about noon Saturday. The teens told authorities that they were returning from a fishing trip in Ensenada, Mexico.

Officers screened the boat at a Shelter Island dock with a drug-sniffing dog, which signaled to agents that there might be concealed drugs. After removing the deck, officials said they found 277 packages of marijuana hidden between the deck and outer hull.

The packages weighed about 1,060 pounds and are worth about $636,000.

Authorities seized the boat and drugs and turned the two men, ages 18 and 19, and a 19-year-old woman, all U.S. citizens, into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Agents also stopped two men from leaving the country aboard cruise ships in separate incidents Friday.

A 26-year-old U.S. citizen from Santa Monica was arrested on suspicion of violating a protective order issued by a Los Angeles court, officials said.

Agents said he tried to leave the country Friday afternoon aboard a cruise ship with his girlfriend and her children, whom he had been ordered to stay away from.

About an hour later, a 46-year-old Newport Beach man was also arrested.

He had a no-bail warrant issued for his arrest in Lake Charles, La., for illegal activity related to fraudulent checks, officials said.

Both men were escorted off the cruise ships and turned over to Harbor Police.

Angelica Martinez: (619) 293-1317;

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