Two detained after panga boat lands in Rancho Palos Verdes


By Beatriz Valenzuela, Press-Telegram
POSTED: 03/15/14, 10:23 AM PDT


RANCHO PALOS VERDES >> Los Angeles County Sheriff, Los Angeles Police and Coast Guard officials have taken at least two people into custody after a panga boat washed up on the shore of Abalone Cove Shoreline Park in Rancho Palos Verdes early Saturday morning.

“We’ve confirmed it is a panga boat but it’s unclear is any drugs were onboard,” said Lt. Cmmdr. Juan Hernandez with the Coast Guard.

Abalone cove in shoreline park in Palos Verdes.

The smaller boats have been used in the past for drug smuggling. In January of this year, 14 people including a juvenile, were arrested after a panga boat carrying 2,000 pounds of marijuana landed on the northern Ventura County coast.

A witness called around 8 a.m. to report he had been watching a small boat off the shore since around dawn, Hernandez said.

“He said he heard the voices of some females yelling, probably when they entered the cold water,” Hernandez said. “Then he saw two people trying to push the vessel back into the water and then they took off running.”

Authorities were able to detain at least two people on the shore, he said.

Hernandez said there were quite a few life jackets in the small boat and plenty of fuel.

The investigation is ongoing.

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