14 Mexican nationals detained after panga boat washes ashore in Rancho Palos Verdes

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Thursday, July 15, 2021
14 Mexican nationals detained in SoCal panga boat bust
Fourteen Mexican nationals were detained in a panga boat bust in Rancho Palos Verdes Thursday morning, authorities say.

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. (KABC) -- Fourteen Mexican nationals were detained Thursday morning after a panga boat they were traveling in washed ashore off the coast of Rancho Palos Verdes, authorities say.

The boat was found near the 5300 block of Palos Verdes Drive around 8:40 a.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Authorities were searching for several other people who may have been on the boat. Aerial footage from AIR7 HD showed a large law enforcement presence at the scene.

Customs and Border Protection officials say its the latest dangerous incident involving human cargo off the California coastline.

Two months ago in San Diego, three people died and several others were hospitalized on a shipwrecked vessel smuggling people into the U.S.