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Found Boat Wreckage (Panga Boat)
By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
 Ventura County Sheriff's Department At approximately 0730 hours, State Park Rangers located a damaged boat in the ocean near State Route 1 and Deer Creek Road. They requested assistance from the Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department for a possible rescue operation for the occupants of the boat. Upon their arrival, they located more than a dozen large containers filled with gasoline, and packages of marijuana and clothing items scattered along the beach. They also located the remains of a panga-style vessel commonly used for fishing and more recently used by drug and human trafficking smugglers, grounded on the rocks and heavily damaged by the high surf conditions. Personnel from Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Ventura and Los Angeles County firefighters, State Park Rangers, Ls Angeles County Lifeguards, the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents searched for several hours over a one-mile radius, by land, sea, and air. However, the occupants of the boat could not be located. Additionally, Ventura County Environmental Health was on scene for any gasoline spills or other envronmental issues associated with this matter. It is estimated that at least 250 pounds of marijuana and up to 250 gallons of gasoline were recovered from the apparent drug-smuggling operation. The majority of the packaged marijuana was found on the beach near a stairway leading up to the highway. There has been an increase in smuggling in recent months by traffickers attempting landfall in remote areas along the Ventura County shoreline and adjoining counties. Local community members or visitors to the area are being asked to call 9-1-1 if they see any suspicious individuals or activity in this general area. Location: S.R. 1 (PCH) and Deer Creek Road |
