Major Maritime Smuggling Bust in San Clemente

SAN CLEMENTE, CA — A boat abandoned on San Clemente's Calafia State Park Beach was full of marijuana U.S. Border Patrol agents said.

The U.S. Border Patrol seized approximately 2,400 pounds of marijuana that was left inside the water craft.

On Monday at approximately 3 p.m., the U.S. Border Patrol said in recent release. Agents responded to a report from California State Park rangers that a 25-foot Bayliner was in the process of washing ashore.

"With assistance from the rangers, agents pulled the vessel ashore for further inspection," they said. "Agents did not encounter any people on the boat or the surrounding area."

During the inspection, agents discovered several large bags throughout the boat that contained a total of 82 cellophane-wrapped bundles of marijuana.

The estimated street value of the marijuana was about $1.2 million. The marijuana and the vessel were seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.

If you have information about maritime smuggling or suspicious activity along the coast of California, please contact JHOC at 1-800-854-9834 or 911.

U.S. Border Patrol Photo