Agents arrest two, seize boat off Laguna

Two men were taken into custody early Tuesday after federal officials seized their boat and found more than $4 million in marijuana, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency.

Federal agents stopped a panga with two Mexican men and 119 packages of marijuana on board at 3:30 a.m. about 12 miles southwest of Laguna Beach, according to a news release.

Authorities first spotted a boat that didn’t have required navigation lights on at 12:45 a.m. several miles off the coast of La Jolla.

Agents followed the boat and received help from another vessel off Del Mar.

The men tried to evade federal officials, but were eventually caught off Laguna Beach, the news release said.

Agents seized the panga and turned the men over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities in San Diego.

The men’s names won’t be released unless the assistant U.S. attorney’s office files charges, Customs spokesman Ralph DeSio wrote in an email.

The marijuana has an estimated street value of $4.1 million, Customs officials said.

—Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @AldertonBryce