5 arrested after panga boat reaches shore near La Jolla

U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested five Mexican nationals — two men and three juveniles, all unauthorized immigrants — after a boat came ashore near La Jolla early Sept. 20, an official said.

The Joint Harbor Operations Center — staffed by the Coast Guard, the Navy and harbor police — reported the panga boat at about 5 a.m. as it was headed north near Sunset Cliffs.

About 20 minutes later, the boat reached shore near La Jolla. Agents found the boat and 11 life jackets abandoned, Border Patrol Agent Justin Castrejon said.

Agents searched the area and found the five unauthorized immigrants, Castrejon said. The group was taken to a Border Patrol station for processing.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized the boat. No other information was available. ◆