Mexican smuggling boats race up California coast
Source: NBC News
SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. -- Standing on a bluff along the central California coast, rancher Paul Van Leer pointed to the beach near his property where a Mexican smuggling boat, known as a panga, came ashore in May loaded with marijuana.
(snip)
The rancher's safety concerns reflect a trend noticed by federal and local law enforcement officials -- that Mexican maritime smugglers are bringing their illicit cargo farther and farther north along the California coast.
(snip)
Recently, Mexican boats carrying marijuana loads have landed on remote shores more than 300 miles north of San Diego. Two pangas were found near Big Sur. Another landed on the secured beaches of Vandenberg Air Force Base, while other smugglers left $4 million worth of marijuana bales strewn along the beaches near Refugio State Park, close to the pricey homes there.
(snip)
For the last three years, some of the smugglers have been using the Channel Islands National Park, a chain of environmentally sensitive islands off the Ventura and Santa Barbara coastlines, to refuel or to hide from U.S. Coast Guard patrols.
Read more: http://dailynightly.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/13/19193263-mexican-smuggling-boats-race-up-california-coast
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)Anyone who thinks a border fence is going to work needs to watch this informative video.
AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)Those who drive these boats and unload the drugs have no choice in the matter. If they refuse, or lose a load, or make a mistake, their family back in Mexico pays the price. Once they get in with these gangs, there is no way out. A lot of them get in merely because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. They may just be grabbed off the street. They might be immigrants who are headed to the US when the gangs intercept them.
Ironically, they will get paid fairly well for a delivered load. They do have a choice in the matter, but it's not a very good one. Its plata o plomo, or in English, "Silver or lead".
In some cases they choose lead. In 2011 in San Fernando Mexico, the Zetas drug gang captured 72 immigrants riding on a train. They needed warm bodies for their never ending battles with the other cartels. They were given a choice, join the Zetas as torturers and assassins and be paid $2000 per month, or be tortured to death. All but two chose death.
It's a sad, sad situation in Mexico these days.
Survivor details murder of 72 Central American Immigrants
Rstrstx
(1,399 posts)There aren't any in the San Fernando area. It probably happened on a bus or private vehicles, I don't think that was ever clarified.
There was a time from 2010-2012(?) when San Fernando was truly a no-man's land. The horrors that happened less than 100 miles from the U.S. border are too depressing to dwell on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_San_Fernando_massacre
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_San_Fernando_massacre
On a brighter note, the violence has subsided, at least in northeastern Mexico.
wordpix
(18,652 posts)He's actually buying a winter place in Mex. and sees no problems where he's going to live.
If the problems are mostly near the border, they're no doubt due to US demand for the drugs. Period.
LiberalFighter
(51,170 posts)Get rid of the users!
olddad56
(5,732 posts)actually defending our country.
frylock
(34,825 posts)a better solution would be to come to the realization that all the money in the world isn't going to stop people from using marijuana.
jtuck004
(15,882 posts)welcome sign and lemonade stand.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)It's basically for export. I wouldn't bother.
jtuck004
(15,882 posts)(That's the stuff that Okie's grew up on, back in the 70's. I was amazed when I moved up North that the norm was so much different. Actually took me awhile to quit believing they weren't spiking it with something.)
Their future has to weigh on their mind when they work, y'know?
And I think they might enjoy a glass of lemonade while they wait for their ride
cbayer
(146,218 posts)So.... I wouldn't be too anxious to welcome them.
They are desperate and afraid.
jtuck004
(15,882 posts)of things wouldn't happen.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)They should feel desperate and afraid.
They make the waters around here unsafe. I am no fan.
jtuck004
(15,882 posts)it''s because they are taking their jobs, bringing in drugs, whatever. And they all feel quite righteous and justified about their fear, hatred, disrespect, whatever.
Not dissing or judging you, it's just a fact.
But most of the people I have met that crossed the borders in a variety of ways, and I've worked with a few, are decent people who, through nothing other than an accident of birth, are coming from a place that is almost always much worse than they are headed for, usually filled with people who enjoy a privilege that is far greater than most realize. And even then they can't hardly bring themselves to be decent to the "outside".
It's been harder for me to be on the other side as the years go by, 'cause I think I have more in common with them than the people in the country I am from. As time goes on it seems like this place just gets more and more arrogant and plantation like.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)I am surrounded by them and have great respect and gratitude for what they are doing and experiencing.
This has nothing to do with righteousness, hatred or disrespect.
My respect for people that cross borders is not in question here and I agree that most are very decent people.
Drug runners from Mexico, though, are generally involved in criminal activity that is destroying that country and the decent people who live there.
jtuck004
(15,882 posts)yet no one seems to be nearly as concerned when they dock their yachts around this country.
I just see different evil than some
upaloopa
(11,417 posts)boats land everyday to and from work. By the time anyone encounters the boats they are sitting on the beach empty. The local fishermen and sailboats don't seem to be harmed. Panga boats seem to travel at night when other boats are in shore.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)They do travel at night. They don't follow the usual rules for boats, like using navigational lights and they are on the run.
If you spent time on the water, you would understand the difference.
Are we really defending drug runners from Mexico here?
snooper2
(30,151 posts)Everyone has to make a living-
I watched a show a while back about the ones who walk across from Canada with backpacks. That would be a cool story to tell your grandchildren
cbayer
(146,218 posts)But that's another story.
You go ahead and run some drugs across the Canadian border. Or better yet, the Mexican border.
You big, bad Robin Hood, you.
snooper2
(30,151 posts)LOL
I did smuggle a bottle of Tequila across the border from Tijuana once. Or at least I thought I was, probably not even illegal
I was 20 years old though and doing a job, had rental car, ran across border and came back. It was a Towncar if I remember correctly. The fucked up part is I was on the plane to fly back from southern cali to Missouri, plane was about to take off, and I was like FUCK!
I left that bottle under the back seat cushion of the rental car So if you worked at Avis in 1995 in Southern Cali and found that, you are welcome
cbayer
(146,218 posts)I was only briefly involved in some distribution earlier in my life and I'm not going to share the details. But for me, the anxiety was way too much.
I vowed early on in my life that I was not going to go to jail or prison. So far, so good.
upaloopa
(11,417 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)The pangas, most of which are not safe to begin with, travel without regard to the rules (international and local) that govern travel. They disregard rules about navigational lights, rights of way and, in general, create a safety hazard. They have also been known to dump their cargo into the ocean, either for a pre-arranged pick up or when they are cornered. This presents serious hazards to navigation.
It would be like people driving their cars into the country and completely disregarding stop lights, speed limits, rights of pedestrians or bicyclists.
They are engaging in criminal activity and have little incentive to pay any attention at all to the rights or safety of others.
Dustlawyer
(10,497 posts)Mexican "dirt weed" instead of the Cali stuff b/c of cost.
People with medical conditions causing chronic pain or people on Chemo need this pot b/c it works great on their pain. Sadly, pot is a political issue due to the special interests who want to keep it out! They do not care if people suffer, until its them and then they say, "Well I never knew it really worked!" Lazy, ignorant fools I say!
cbayer
(146,218 posts)take considerable risk if they export across state lines.
Of course, pot is a political issue. So are drug cartels in Mexico that import into the US.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)But their boats are often shabby and ill-equipped for the journey.
petronius
(26,606 posts)pick up a load of something good...
Kinda scary really - during lobster season especially I know a lot of people who go night-diving on those dark beaches. I'd hate for anyone to run into the folks who are planning to meet these pangas.
Piedras
(247 posts)Drug smuggling pangas have been caught numerous places along the coast of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Some local stories from CalCoastNews.com:
San Simeon
Vandenburg
Coast Guard officer killed near Santa Cruz Island
Montana de Oro
petronius
(26,606 posts)I really need to read the local paper once in a while...
petronius
(26,606 posts)On May 29, authorities seized 53 bales of marijuana worth $1.3 million and arrested 15 people after a 35-foot-long panga boat was discovered off Montaña de Oro State Park.
msongs
(67,462 posts)madrchsod
(58,162 posts)bluedigger
(17,087 posts)We need Mexicans to grow it here.
Historic NY
(37,454 posts)in a short period of time. I'm amazed Vandenberg doesn't have a few emplacements.
It appears they are willing to challenge authority. Instead of a well placed shot over the bow, it should be going threw it.
frylock
(34,825 posts)Historic NY
(37,454 posts)The most dramatic and tragic incident occurred last December in Smugglers Cove, off Santa Cruz Island. Authorities say two suspected smugglers on a panga rammed a Coast Guard inflatable boat as it was approaching them, killing Chief Petty Officer Terrell Horne.
The vessel increased speed, directly rammed the Coast Guard small boat, said Hehr. At that point two Coast Guard members were ejected into the water. Senior Chief Horne was actually killed by the panga as he went into the water.
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)Seriously. It's unsmokable, has all kinds of pesticides and insecticides and commercial chemical fertilizer. And it's bunk weed to boot. I repeat, who buys this shit?
petronius
(26,606 posts)Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)a nice, California-grown bud and say, "Here, this is what ganja SUPPOSED to taste like." Followed by something I can't say on DU.
My condolences. I can't stand to smell bunk weed. It's just nasty.
wordpix
(18,652 posts)I'd really like to know why I can't grow it in my own home or backyard garden. Is it such a crime that I'm hurting other people if I grow it for myself?
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)love about California -- I'm legal for 12 plants, but then again, I never did count too well. Seriously, the po-po have known about my plants for years. They don't care. They're looking for the places with 1,000 plants or the cartels trying to grow on federal/state land. I'm snooze-city for them.
snooper2
(30,151 posts)Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)Sunlei
(22,651 posts)all those thousands of cargo containers too.
madrchsod
(58,162 posts)grow and smoke made in america pot!
Mr.Bill
(24,334 posts)I can't believe they are still smuggling it in from Mexico.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)It is intended for export to other states.
Mr.Bill
(24,334 posts)Yeah, I guess if you live in Utah you could get high on that garbage.