ICE: Panga In Manhattan Beach Was Carrying About 1,850 Pounds Of Pot
MANHATTAN BEACH (CBSLA.com) — Authorities Saturday said two people have been detained in connection with the discovery of over 1,000 pounds of marijuana found inside a panga that washed ashore.
Virginia Kice, the Western Regional Communications Director for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), said in an email to CBS2 that the boat was carrying approximately 1,850 pounds of marijuana.
The discovery was made just after 3:30 a.m. near 44th Street in Manhattan Beach.
"We've had in the past couple years an upsurge in smuggling utilizing those vessels so the Border Patrol was doing routine patrol along the coast and they saw the vessel coming in and they were able to interdict it and apprehend two Mexican nationals," Claude Arnold, a special agent in charge for ICE/Homeland Security in Los Angeles, told KNX 1070.
Raw Audio: Claude Arnold Discusses Panga Discovery
Kice wrote that Homeland Security Investigations agents were questioning the two individuals.
U.S. Customs authorities were expected to take over the investigation.
No further information was provided.
