Investigators were searching a 25-foot abandoned long boat found on the sand in Dana Point Wednesday morning, April 21.
The boat was reported at 7 a.m. across from 34664 Pacific Coast Highway. No people were located nearby, according to Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Carrie Braun.
“We are continuing to patrol check the area on land and water,” she said.
The vessel and investigation were turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, she said.
Beachgoers walking by stopped to watch and snapped photos as investigators combed the boat, taking out gas tanks and life vests from the vessel.
Mike Riley was playing volleyball at nearby Doheny State Beach and saw Coast Guard vessels zooming by, at first thinking they were responding to sharks.
He wondered if the boat was from smugglers coming to shore.
“It happens every once in a while. I hope nobody got hurt. It’s a sign of the time, desperate people seeking desperate ways,” he said.
