SAN PEDRO, Calif. - The Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Palos Verdes Estates Police Department, and several other government agencies worked together to apprehend three people suspected of attempting to smuggle contraband into California, Oct. 30, 2012.
A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station San Diego and Customs & Border Protection aircraft tracked a small suspicious boat moving at high speed in the Pacific Ocean, moving north. The Coast Guard Cutter Hawksbill, homeported in Monterey, Calif., was diverted to assist and a 45-foot Response Boat from Coast Guard Station Los Angeles - Long Beach was launched. Redondo Police Department and Redondo Baywatch units were also involved in the interdiction effort.
At about 5 p.m., the suspects beached their vessel on the rocks of Malaga Park near Palos Verdes Estates. Palos Verdes police officers were waiting an apprehended all three individuals without incident. The Coast Guard has determined that there is no threat of pollution from the boat. Customs & Border Protection officers and Homeland Security Investigations agents are currently on-scene and will conduct the investigation.
Nearly a dozen federal, state and local government agencies combined in the interdiction.