Thread: 3 arrested, marijuana found on boat

3 arrested, marijuana found on boat

By Susan Shroder
9:51 p.m., May 25, 2011

Border Patrol agents arrested three men and seized more than 750 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $454,000 Tuesday near Torrey Pines State Beach.

Agents spotted a cabin-style boat about 6:15 a.m. traveling north along the coast off La Jolla. About an hour later, the boat landed near Torrey Pines. Two men, ages 30 and 34, were arrested, said Border Patrol Agent Kurtis M. Woods. Both are citizens of Mexico.

Thirty-two bundles of marijuana were found on the boat, Woods said.

A 37-year-old Mexican citizen who was found waiting in a white van near where the boat landed was arrested for being in the country illegally and on suspicion of being involved in the drug-smuggling attempt.

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

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011 ... na-seized/

CBP U.S. Border Patrol Arrest 3 Mexican Nationals in Maritime Drug Smuggling Attempt

More than 750 pounds of marijuana seized near Torrey Pines State Beach

(Wednesday, May 25, 2011)

San Diego – U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested three male Mexican nationals yesterday attempting to smuggle more than 750 pounds of marijuana inside a cuddy cabin style boat that came ashore near Torrey Pines State Beach.

At about 6:15 a.m., agents spotted a boat travelling north along the coastline in the waters off La Jolla. Approximately one hour later, agents monitored the boat as it came ashore near Torrey Pines State Beach with two individuals aboard. Agents subsequently arrested two Mexican nationals, ages 34 and 30, who were illegally present in the country. Agents also discovered the boat contained 32 bundles of marijuana with a total weight of 758 pounds and an estimated street value of $454,800.

Soon after, agents questioned the driver of a white van, a 37-year-old male Mexican national, who was waiting near the area of the boat landing. The driver of the van was subsequently arrested for being illegally present in the United States and for his involvement with the drug smuggling attempt. The three suspected smugglers, the vessel, the van, and the drugs were transported to a local Border Patrol station for processing. Agents later turned over custody of the men, drugs, boat and vehicle to the San Diego Air and Marine Task Force for further investigation.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection maintains a strong enforcement posture along the coastal borders to detect, apprehend, and deter smugglers of humans, drugs and other contraband and is a member agency of the Maritime Unified Command (MUC). The MUC is comprised of the U.S. Coast Guard, CBP Office of Air & Marine, CBP Office of Field Operations, CBP U.S. Border Patrol, ICE, as well as state and local law enforcement partners operating in the San Diego and Orange County maritime domain. The MUC utilizes the fusion of intelligence, planning and operations to target the threat of transnational crime along the southern California coastal border.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Contacts For This News Release
San Diego Sector
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (619) 216-4182

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 2011_9.xml