$4M Worth of Marijuana Seized From Boat Off La Jolla

U.S. Custom and Border Protection officials confiscated 38 bales of marijuana valued at $4,105,000 from a panga boat off La Jolla early Tuesday morning.

Agents detected the panga traveling north without required navigational lights at 12:45 a.m. several miles off the coast. The small boat was tracked and when officials caught up with it near Del Mar, operators attempted to evade the agents, U.S. Custom and Border Protection officials said.

Agents stopped the panga at approximately 3:30 a.m., about 12 miles off Laguna Beach. Two male Mexican nationals were onboard, officials said.

The men were arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations agents in San Diego. The case is being referred to the U.S. Attorney's Office for prosecution. 

“The Office of Air and Marine, working closely with our partner agencies, continue to patrol the waters off the California coast to prevent illegal and dangerous activities from reaching our shores,” said Bill Raymond, Director of Air Operations for the San Diego Air and Marine Branch in a statement issues Tuesday afternoon.