dannno
03-15-2013, 11:20 AM
http://www.independent.com/news/2013/mar/14/panga-runners-land-vandenberg/
Panga Runners Land at Vandenberg
More Than $2.7 Million of Marijuana Recovered Near Wall Beach
Thursday, March 14, 2013
By Nick Welsh
The pot-smuggling crew of a distressed panga boat landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base last week — about 1.5 miles north of Wall Beach — and off-loaded what Homeland Security officials estimate was $2.7 million worth of marijuana. It was the first known landing on Vandenberg, which commands a 40-mile stretch of coastline, and no arrests have been made despite the deployment of at least one helicopter, a fixed-wing plane, multiple horses, and several all-terrain vehicles.
According to David Wales, special agent with Homeland Security, it appears the engine had been knocked off the boat, and the occupants were forced to land where they could. After the boat was discovered, the base went into force protection mode “Bravo” and adopted what are known as “Charley” measures. Translated, that’s the equivalent of a very intense fire drill in which all 2,000 structures on Vandenberg are inspected and secured. Vandenberg media officials declined to elaborate on how a panga breached base security, explaining, “Vandenberg does not discuss security measures or monitoring/surveillance capabilities.”
These Panga boats have been landing up and down the coast here for years, they catch one every once in a while. They're usually smuggling about a dozen illegal immigrants and hundreds or thousands of pounds of cannabis.
There's an epic "government is taking our liberties" rant about 7 posts down in the comment section ;)
Panga Runners Land at Vandenberg
More Than $2.7 Million of Marijuana Recovered Near Wall Beach
Thursday, March 14, 2013
By Nick Welsh
The pot-smuggling crew of a distressed panga boat landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base last week — about 1.5 miles north of Wall Beach — and off-loaded what Homeland Security officials estimate was $2.7 million worth of marijuana. It was the first known landing on Vandenberg, which commands a 40-mile stretch of coastline, and no arrests have been made despite the deployment of at least one helicopter, a fixed-wing plane, multiple horses, and several all-terrain vehicles.
According to David Wales, special agent with Homeland Security, it appears the engine had been knocked off the boat, and the occupants were forced to land where they could. After the boat was discovered, the base went into force protection mode “Bravo” and adopted what are known as “Charley” measures. Translated, that’s the equivalent of a very intense fire drill in which all 2,000 structures on Vandenberg are inspected and secured. Vandenberg media officials declined to elaborate on how a panga breached base security, explaining, “Vandenberg does not discuss security measures or monitoring/surveillance capabilities.”
These Panga boats have been landing up and down the coast here for years, they catch one every once in a while. They're usually smuggling about a dozen illegal immigrants and hundreds or thousands of pounds of cannabis.
There's an epic "government is taking our liberties" rant about 7 posts down in the comment section ;)