see also: in July 2008:   CBP Discovers 2.7 Tons of Marijuana on Cargo Box Truck   Holiday Travel Reminder for Northwest Border Crossers   Current, Former CBP Employees Assist in Arrest of Purse Snatchers   CBP Officers Arrest Man Wanted for Failure to Register as Sex Offender   California SENTRI Participant in Hot Water, CBP Finds Dope in Vehicle   CBP Officers Arrest Man Wanted for Aggravated Sexual Assault on Minor   CBP Revokes Trusted Traveler Privileges After Finding Prohibited Items During Inspection ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

San Diego - U.S. Customs and Border Protection marine interdiction agents intercepted a Mexican ponga boat, arrested three male occupants and seized over 1,000 pounds of marijuana early Saturday morning in San Diego coastal waters near Point Loma, officials announced today.

Responding to a sighting of a northbound vessel without lights from a nearby U.S. Coast Guard helicopter on patrol, a CBP Midnight Express go-fast boat with three agents intercepted the 25-foot Mexican ponga at 3:40 a.m. Saturday morning about 12 nautical miles northwest of Point Loma.

Agents initiated a pursuit and deployed warning shots as well as disabling fire to the engine of the fleeing vessel. After a five-minute chase, the driver of the unmarked blue and white vessel came to a stop and gave up.

Once on board the vessel, CBP marine interdiction agents discovered 13 bales of marijuana weighing 1,062 pounds and valued at about $478,000.

All three Mexican males appeared to be in good health when apprehended.

The three men were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, from the San Diego marine task force, who are pursuing the investigation. The marine task force is composed of officers from various local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

The vessel has been seized by CBP and is being stored in an undisclosed, secure location.

The seizure follows another apprehension made by CBP marine interdiction agents and border patrol agents on July 14 when a 19-foot Mexican ponga and nine undocumented Mexican men and women were discovered in the surf at Imperial Beach.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.