Santa Rosa Island to re-open to visitors

UPDATE–

Santa Rosa Island will once again open to visitors on November 2 after a temporary closure due to the discovery of marijuana bundles on the island, and search for potential drug smugglers.

44 bundles of marijuana, weighing nearly 3,000 lbs, were discovered on October 25.

National Park Service rangers and other federal agencies conducted aerial and ground searches since the close of the island, but did not found any suspects connected to the smuggling incident.

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ORIGINAL STORY

Channel Islands National Park officials have issued a closure for Santa Rosa Island out of safety concerns for visitors after numerous bundles of marijuana were discovered on October 25.

Authorities believe the discovery of contraband on the island is part of a smuggling attempt connected to the discovery of an abandoned smuggling boat, or panga boat, near Mariposa Reina over the weekend.

Fuel containers were also retrieved from Santa Rosa Island.

Law enforcement personnel from multiple agencies are conducting aerial and ground searches for any suspects that may still be on the island.

“This closure, while unfortunate, is necessary to protect the public from potential harm,” said Channel Islands National Park Superintendent Russell Galipeau. “The National Park Service will reopen Santa Rosa Island as soon as the risk is mitigated.”

Park Rangers located three campers on the island and transported them back to the mainland. They are not considered suspects.

The closure will affect at least 73 visitors who had trips planned for the upcoming weekend.