The National Park Service closed one of the islands in the Channel Islands to the public, after a large drug shipment was discovered on the island.
The Park Service issued an emergency closure order for Santa Rosa Island Wednesday. The action came after a number of bundles of marijuana were found on the island. It’s believed that the drugs were linked to a maritime smuggling operation. Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies are searching via air, and on the ground to see if the smugglers might still be on the island.
The incident is believed to be connected to the discovery of an abandoned boat on the Gaviota coastline earlier this week. Three people who had been camping on Santa Rosa Island were evacuated. The closure will affect more than 70 people who had booked trips to visit the island this coming weekend.
Park Service officials say they closure is necessary to protect the public from potentially dangerous drug smugglers.
