$1.2m of marijuana found on abandoned boat in California

U.S. Border Patrol agents seized more than a tonne of marijuana after it was found on board an abandoned motor boat at Calafia State Park in California.

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U.S. officials are trying to trace the owner of a 25-foot Bayliner, after bales of marijuana, worth more than a $1million, were found on board.

The abandoned boat was found beached at Calafia State Park near San Clemente in California.

It was discovered at around 1500 on 5 December 2016 following reports from California State Park rangers that the vessel was washing ashore.

The marijuana was found on board the abandoned Bayliner

The abandoned Bayliner. Credit: U.S Customs and Border Protection

With assistance from the rangers, agents pulled the vessel ashore for inspection.

When it was examined by U.S Border Patrol agents, 82 cellophane-wrapped bundles of marijuana were discovered stashed beneath the bow and on the deck.

Marijuana found on board the Bayliner

Some of the marijuana found on board. Credit: U.S Customs and Border Protection

In a statement, U.S Customs and Border Protection said that agents did not encounter any people on the boat or the surrounding area.

“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,” said the statement.

bales of marijuana found on a Bayliner in California

The bales of marijuana. Credit: US Customs and Border Protection

Anyone with information about the boat is asked to contact the Joint Harbor Operations Center in San Diego at 1-800-854-9834 or call 911.

The U.S. Border Patrol in collaboration with Federal, state, and local law-enforcement agencies coordinates operations through the Regional Coordinating Mechanism (ReCoM) to address transnational maritime threats along the Southern California coast.

The ReCoM mission is to increase homeland security by eliminating transnational crime along the coast.

The Joint Harbor Operations Center (JHOC) in San Diego is the tactical command centre for ReCoM.