Man Arrested For Attempting To Smuggle A Literal Ton Of Marijuana By Panga Boat

by Michael Chaoui , May 3, 2013

GAVIOTA –

Jesus Garcia-Guzman, 19

A man has been arrested for trying to smuggle 2,000 pounds of marijuana near the Point of Conception Lighthouse around 9:45am Thursday morning.

Ranch employees discovered a 30 foot panga boat in a secluded cove at Cojo Ranch that the suspect used in his attempt to smuggle the marijuana.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Narcotics Detective were called out to the scene and soon found the abandoned panga boat. Soon afterwards, they located the ton of marijuana at a nearby cliff. The street worth of the marijuana amounts to approximately 4,000,000 dollars.

On Monday, authorities arrested Jesus Garcia-Guzman, 19, of Mexico on

Marijuana confiscated

burglary charges for late night break-ins on Hollister Ranch. Arresting authorities suspected that he was involved in the marijuana trafficking. Soon after investigating, they were able to link Garcia-Guzman with the panga boat found yesterday morning and re-booked him into the Santa Barbara County Jail on the charges of drug trafficking. He is being held on $100,000 bail.

Santa Barbara Air Support was able to remove the marijuana from the beach while Homeland Security removed the boat. The panga boat will be transported to Long Beach and will be booked as evidence.

The Sheriff’s Narcotics Division has investigators working closely with the Department of Homeland Security on this smuggling investigation, as well as the overall problem of drugs and human trafficking on the California coastline.

KCOY Channel 12: Man Arrested For Trying To Smuggle 2,000 pounds Of Marijuana By Panga Boat

Santa Maria Times: Panga Boat Discovered Near Refugio Beach; 2,000 Pounds Of Marijuana Recovered