Top 10 Stories: Panga Boat Landings

It's been a crazy year. Palos Verdes Patch writers were busy writing about vandalism at the local high school, a missing diver and panga landings, among other topics. Here is the No. 7 story of the year, chosen by popularity and editorial discretion.

Panga Boats Return to Palos Verdes (No. 7)

After seeing five in 2011, the Palos Verdes Peninsula saw no panga boat landings until this fall, when two boats hit the shores within months of each other.

The pangas—25- to 40-foot open-bowed, outboard-powered fishing vessels—are often used to smuggle humans and drugs from Mexico.

In the first incident, three people were arrested on suspicion of smuggling drugs after landing near Malaga Cove in Palos Verdes Estates on Oct. 30. Twenty-five people were taken into custody after landing near Portuguese Bend on Dec. 10.

Until last year, Lomita Station Lt. Blaine Bolin wasn’t used to dealing with smuggling incidents in Palos Verdes.

“[In 2011] is when it really hit the radar for us,” he said. “Prior to this past year, it really didn’t come to our attention. … The landings were always farther south.”

Related:

• 25 Arrested After Panga Boat Lands in RPV
• Police: Boat Carrying Marijuana Lands in Palos Verdes; 3 Arrested
• Human and Drug Smuggling Boats Reach Palos Verdes Shores

For more top stories from this year, click here.