Harbor Patrol Finds Nearly 8,000 Pounds Of Marijuana Floating In Ocean
DANA POINT (CBS) — Harbor Patrol agents started receiving calls just after noon Sunday about large bails of marijuana floating off the coast of Dana Point.
About 160 bales were found and confiscated.
In all, officials said the pot totaled more than 7,263 pounds, and counting.
It's unclear if any arrests were made.
IMAGES: 4 Tons Of Pot Seized
Several boats were involved in the retrieval effort including Coast Guard and Border Patrol.
Edward Lawrence, reporting for CBS2 and KCAL9, says Border Patrol agents said the marijuana has a street value of $3.6 million.
US Border Patrol Agent Supervisor Michael Jimenez released the following statement Sunday evening: "Law enforcement authorities seized marijuana found off the coast of Orange County, California this afternoon. Seizing the narcotics is the result of the joint efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities working together within one regional coordinating group to stop illegal maritime activity along the Southern California coastline."
He added, "Shortly before noon on Sunday, May 20, maritime law enforcement authorities received a tip about suspicious bales floating in the water off the coast of Orange County, near Dana Point. The Orange County Sheriff's Department responded and recovered numerous bales of marijuana, and turned the narcotics over to the U.S. Border Patrol."
