MALIBU, Calif. (AP) — A report of a boat beached on the Southern California coast led to discovery of more than 60 pounds (27 kilograms) of marijuana last weekend.
The report came in Sunday and agents found a 40-foot (12.19 meter) panga boat on the shore near Point Mugu State Park in Malibu, the U.S. Border Patrol said.
In addition to the marijuana, investigators found containers filled with more than 500 gallons (1,890 liters) of fuel in the boat.
The Los Angeles Times reports Wednesday that the pot has a street value of about $24,000.
Pangas are the vessel of choice for smuggling contraband up the coast from Mexico. Agents think the drug smugglers were forced to abandon the boat, which had a broken steering cable.
Border Patrol and Air and Marine Operations have seized 925 pounds (419.57 kilograms) of marijuana and 26 vessels since October, the newspaper said. More than 280 arrests from maritime smuggling have been made in the region.
