1,000+ Pounds of Marijuana Found in Abandoned Boat on San Mateo Coastline

More than 1,000 pounds of marijuana were recovered from a boat that investigators suspect was abandoned on Pescadero State Beach Monday morning after being used to bring the drugs from Mexico, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesman said.

The boat -- carrying 42 bales of marijuana, each weighing between 25 and 30 pounds -- was found along with a Chevrolet Suburban just before 8 a.m., Homeland Security investigations spokesman Andrew Muñoz said.

Muñoz said it appears that drug runners were loading the marijuana into the Suburban, but it became stuck in the sand and the suspects abandoned their operation.

The 30-foot twin-engine vessel is similar to ones commonly used by drug traffickers coming either directly from Mexico, often from Baja California, or could have been bringing the drugs from a ship stationed offshore, Muñoz said.

He said this particular boat has a very large fuel tank, which indicates that it traveled a long distance to get there. That type of boat is popular with drug runners because they are fast and can hold a lot of drugs, he said.

No suspects were located Monday and Muñoz said he cannot comment on any potential leads.

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office initially responded to the scene but the Department of Homeland Security has taken over the investigation.


– Bay City News Service.