CAYUCOS, Calif- 20 people are in custody after witnesses said they saw them unloading drugs from a panga boat to a motor home Thursday morning. Sheriffs say they allegedly tried to smuggle millions of dollars worth of drugs to Pierdras Blancas Beach.
All of the suspects are currently being held at the San Luis Obispo County Jail, but they will be transferred to Los Angeles tomorrow to face federal charges.
Investigators seized 43 bales of marijuana - with an estimated street value of more than $4.5 million dollars.
Five panga Boats have been found in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties just this year. Drug smugglers use these small fishing boats to travel from Mexico smuggling drugs or people. The sheriff's office says because the boarders are tighter this kind of travel has become more common. These boats are less noticeable, have high speed engines, and can store a lot of drugs.
