Migrants reach California by boat

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Photo credit: Launga Beach Police Dept.

Nine people were detained and several others still on the loose after a panga boat with smuggled immigrants landed Thursday morning on the shore of Laguna Beach, authorities said.

The boat was found around 7 a.m. Thursday near West Street Beach, according to the Laguna Beach Police Department. Police officers, lifeguards and U.S. Border Patrol agents responded.

Video from the Laguna Police Department showed a group of people running from the boat.

Police said they were still searching for several other passengers and investigating two vehicles believed to be waiting to pick up the boat passengers.

Three of the smuggled immigrants were Chinese nationals and four more were reported to be Mexican nationals.

Pangas are open, motor-powered fishing boats common in Central America.  They are often used to smuggle drugs or people into the United States.

 

Laguna Beach is a small oceanfront community south of Los Angeles.