Two men found dead near suspected smuggling boat in Ocean Beach

The bodies were found around 4 a.m. in the surf near the capsized vessel

By DAVID HERNANDEZ, KRISTEN TAKETA
AUG. 2, 2020 1:07 PM

OCEAN BEACH — Two men were found dead in the surf near a capsized boat in Ocean Beach early Sunday in what authorities believe was a human smuggling attempt.

Police, medics and lifeguards found the 28-foot-long panga on the sand and the two bodies in the water around 4 a.m. in spot near Brighton Avenue.

Border Patrol agents, who responded because of “very familiar ties” between the low-slung boats and human smuggling off San Diego’s coast, found six to eight life jackets scattered on the beach and personal items in the boat, a spokesman said.

The U.S. Coast Guard launched a search for any other survivors but suspended the effort about 9:30 a.m. Authorities asked anyone with information to call the Coast Guard-led Joint Harbor Operations Center at (619) 278-7031.

Border Patrol agents in the San Diego area have documented more than 210 marine smuggling “events” since October, Agent Justin Castrejon, a spokesman, said in a statement.

“This human smuggling tactic is extremely dangerous as evident by the outcome of today’s event,” he said.

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