Suspected smugglers caught in the act
Twelve suspected drug smugglers are in custody after deputies in San Luis Obispo County found a smuggling boat and the suspects Wednesday morning.
Investigators scoured a trail that headed down to a beach in Montana de Oro. They collected evidence left behind by people trying to smuggle drugs into the area. “We were able to arrest at least a dozen people, possibly more and also seize a large quantity of what we suspect to be marijuana,” said sheriff’s spokesman Tony Cipolla.
The boat was discovered early Wednesday morning by the Sheriff’s Department. “I think that any time you have drug smugglers on the central coast its cause for concern and I know the sheriff is very concerned about this,” said Cipolla.
According to the Sheriff’s Department, these types of cases are becoming more common. The department recently received a federal grant to help prevent these people and the drugs from hitting the streets.
“This is a very big deal and we just want to make sure that the public is aware that the Sheriff’s Office is on top of it and making sure that they try and stop these panga boats from coming to our shores,” said Cipolla.
