Authorities are investigating what they say appears to be a human smuggling operation on the South Coast.
A boat was spotted on the beach on the Gaviota coastline near Vista Point Tuesday morning. That’s about 27 miles west of Santa Barbara, along Highway 101.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies worked with state and federal officers to search the area. A helicopter was called in to help.
Some people have been detained, but there’s no word on how many. The South Coast has seen a number of boats coming in from Mexico in recent years as smugglers have tried to bypass the border, and move drugs and people into the United States.