Authorities say they've arrested 20 people and seized more than 5,000 pounds of marijuana as the result of a smuggling operation on the South Coast.
The Coast Guard notified Santa Barbara County, state, and federal law enforcement officers they were tracking a panga boat heading up the coast from Mexico early Thursday morning. Officers say they intercepted the smugglers as they were unloading the boat a half mile from Gaviota, near Hollister Ranch.
In addition to the 5300 pounds of dried marijuana seized, more than 40 gallons of marijuana crude oil was confiscated. The arrestees were turned over to Department of Homeland Security agents, who took them to a federal detention facility.