Thread: 10 arrests, ton of pot seized on smuggler boat

ktvn.com
Associated Press
Posted: Jan 04, 2012 2:37 PM EST

VENTURA, Calif. (AP) - A small boat loaded with a ton of marijuana and 10 suspected illegal immigrants has been intercepted in Southern California by federal agents patrolling Pacific Coast Highway for smugglers.

The Ventura County Star (http://bit.ly/AjvRD2 ) says the 20-foot fishing boat was coming ashore in a remote area of southern Ventura County when it was spotted by Department of Homeland Security agents just before 3 a.m. Wednesday near Deer Creek Road.

Ventura County sheriff's Capt. Mike Aranda says federal agents have been patrolling the highway west of Malibu in response to recent discoveries of smuggling vessels in the area.

Ten people, all believed to be illegal immigrants from Mexico, were arrested and about 2,000 pounds of marijuana was seized.

Information from: Ventura County Star, http://venturacountystar.com

http://www.ktvn.com/story/16446168/1...-smuggler-boat

vcstar.com
Posted January 4, 2012 at 7:05 a.m., updated January 4, 2012 at 9:03 a.m.



A suspected drug-smuggling boat rests on Ventura County's southern coast Wednesday morning after 2,000 pounds of marijuana was seized along the Pacific Coast Highway near Deer Creek Road.

Ten people were arrested and about 2,000 pounds of marijuana were seized early this morning after federal officials spotted a suspected smuggling boat along Ventura County's south coast, authorities said.

Officials from the federal Department of Homeland Security were patrolling along Pacific Coast Highway in response to recent discoveries of smuggling vessels in the area when they spotted the boat about 3 a.m. near Deer Creek Road, said Ventura County sheriff's spokesman Capt. Mike Aranda.

Federal officials arrested 10 men believed to be Mexican nationals and seized about 2,000 pounds of marijuana in bails on the roughly 20-foot fishing vessel, Aranda said.

Authorities suspect the boat — a Panga-style vessel — was involved in both drug and human smuggling, he said. Pangas are open fishing vessels often used by smugglers.

The boat's discovery came two days after a similar vessel was found along the coast in Santa Barbara County.

That empty, 30-foot boat was spotted early Monday by off-duty law enforcement officials commuting to work, and authorities found evidence it was used for drug trafficking, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department.

While authorities were waiting for a towing vessel, the boat sank, officials said.

A number of suspected smuggling cases involving Pangas were reported in or around Ventura County in 2011. Authorities said oceangoing smugglers have been pushing farther north from Mexico to avoid border security.

An abandoned Panga washed ashore near Mussel Shoals in late September, at least 250 pounds of marijuana and a demolished boat were found near the Los Angeles County line in early September, and 15 suspected undocumented immigrants were found on Santa Cruz Island this summer after they were reportedly abandoned by a smuggler. In March, more than a ton of marijuana and suspected smugglers were found on Santa Rosa Island after their boat reportedly ran out of gas.

Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jan/...#ixzz1iWUwfBg6
- vcstar.com

10 arrested following interdiction of drug smuggling boat north of Los Angeles

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sent this bulletin at 01/04/2012 06:18 PM EST

Vessel carried more than a ton of marijuana

VENTURA, Calif. — Ten people are in custody following the predawn interdiction Wednesday of a Mexican "panga" boat loaded with more than a ton of marijuana along the Ventura County coast north of Los Angeles.

California National Guardsmen, working in support of the Central California Maritime Agency Coordination Group, initially spotted the vessel offshore and relayed the information to the U.S. Border Patrol. Border Patrol agents responded to the beach near Deer Creek road shortly after 2 a.m. There they discovered the 27-foot boat along with numerous bales of marijuana totaling approximately 2,500 pounds. In addition to the marijuana, authorities also seized two vehicles located in the landing area believed to be linked to the smuggling scheme.

"This interdiction illustrates our ability to analyze information and execute a collaborative operational plan with our partners to deploy a rapid response to mitigate this threat," said Justin Delatorre, acting assistant chief patrol agent with San Diego Sector Border Patrol.

According to agents at the scene, four of those taken into custody arrived on board the boat. The remaining arrestees were found in the landing area. The ongoing probe is being spearheaded by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

"This interdiction clearly shows our joint efforts to target this type of smuggling activity are having an impact," said Claude Arnold, special agent in charge for ICE HSI in Los Angeles. "Today's enforcement action should send a strong message to the criminal organizations in Mexico responsible for these incidents in Southern California that we've got them in our cross-hairs."

In addition to the U.S. Border Patrol and HSI, several other law enforcement agencies assisted with Wednesday morning's enforcement action, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

"Close collaboration with our partners has helped us ensure the success of this operation so we can uniformly keep our streets safe from illegal drugs," said Capt. Roger Laferriere, the commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach. "We look forward to continued success through close partnerships."

"I am absolutely thrilled with the partnerships we've forged with federal, state and local authorities to prevent drug trafficking in this county," said Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean. "We look forward to continuing to work together to keep our county safe."

In response to the escalating number of maritime smuggling incidents in the Los Angeles area, authorities have intensified efforts to target the illegal activity, expanding the use of marine patrols, land-based surveillance and collaboration with the Government of Mexico.

Those efforts are being overseen by the Department of Homeland Security's recently established Central California Maritime Agency Coordination Group. The Group is comprised of ICE HSI; U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Office of Air and Marine, Office of Field Operations and Border Patrol; the U.S. Coast Guard; and several state and local law enforcement agencies, including the sheriff's departments of Orange and Los Angeles counties; and the Los Angeles Police Department. The Group is also receiving substantial assistance from the California National Guard.

In fiscal year 2011, the Maritime Agency Coordination Group recorded a total of 26 maritime smuggling incidents in the greater Los Angeles area, including seven in Ventura County. So far in fiscal year 2012, there have been 10 such incidents in the Southland, including two in Ventura County and one in Santa Barbara County.

http://content.govdelivery.com/bulle...SDHSICE-2467e6