Another abandoned smuggling boat was found Thursday morning just north of Leo Carrillo State Beach, along with at least 250 lbs. of marijuana, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said. State Parks rangers discovered the boat at approximately 7:30 a.m. near the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Deer Creek Road, just outside the Malibu city limits.
Upon discovery of the boat near a stairwell, authorities found more than a dozen large containers of gasoline and burlap bags packed with marijuana strewn across the beach, Captain Mike Aranda told The Malibu Times.
“We thought it was a rescue operation until we noticed the containers with gasoline and marijuana,” Aranda said.
It is the second time in a week an open-air boat used for smuggling, called a “panga” boat, has been found abandoned on Leo Carrillo State Beach. On Aug. 26, ten illegal immigrants were arrested near the beach after their boat was discovered abandoned on the beach.