Pubdate: Mon, 07 Apr 2014
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2014 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: Alicia Banks

THREE MEN ARRESTED AFTER PANGA FOUND WITH STACKS OF MARIJUANA

Three men are in custody on suspicion of attempting to smuggle drugs
into the country after authorities found their panga-style boat washed
ashore Monday in Malibu and loaded with as much as a ton of marijuana,
authorities said.

The men, whose identities haven't been released, could make their
first court appearances Tuesday, U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement spokeswoman Lori Haley wrote in an email Monday.

Leo Carrillo State Park rangers found the 30-foot boat about 8 a.m. on
a portion of the shore in unincorporated Malibu. Gasoline leaked from
the vessel and rangers detected a marijuana odor coming from bundles
of the drug that filled nearly the entire length of the boat.

Rangers detained one suspect at the scene. The two fled but were soon
caught.

The seizure comes after 17 people were detained Friday when a panga
was spotted bobbing in the water off Palos Verdes Peninsula. No drugs
were found on the boat, authorities said.

But from October to March 7, ICE reported 85 maritime smuggling
incidents involving methamphetamine and marijuana along the coast from
San Diego to Monterey counties.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D