Anonymous
Photo: Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office
Source: Department of Justice
Four Mexican nationals today were named in a federal grand jury indictment charging them with possessing and intending to distribute more than 2,100 kilograms (4,700 pounds) of marijuana, which they allegedly transported on a fishing boat that landed on a Santa Barbara County beach.
The indictment returned this afternoon charges four men, all of Sinaloa, Mexico, with one count of possession with intent to distribute at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, a crime that carries a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment and mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison:
- Alejo Garcia-Moreno, 54;
- Benito Garcia-Moreno, 59, Alejo Garcia-Moreno’s brother;
- Mario Sainz-Aranzubia, 44, a cousin of Alejo and Benito Garcia-Moreno; and
- Benny Zazueta-Sainz, 28, Sainz-Aranzubia’s nephew.
According to an affidavit filed with a criminal complaint in this matter, on the evening of March 11, a law enforcement airplane observed an open-bowed fishing vessel known as a “panga boat,” loaded with suspected narcotics and traveling toward Goleta. The four defendants later were identified as being the boat’s crewmembers.
The panga boat landed at Hollister Ranch Beach in Goleta at approximately 1:15 a.m. on March 12, the affidavit states. In addition to the crew members on the panga boat that officers aboard the airplane previously observed, law enforcement saw 14 additional individuals on the beach, as well as two other people on a hill who appeared to be conducting counter-surveillance of law enforcement activity, according to the affidavit. Once the boat landed, the 14 non-crew members on the beach offloaded bales of marijuana from the boat and moved the bales to multiple vehicles waiting nearby, according to court documents.
Law enforcement entered Hollister Ranch Beach around 3 a.m. and the suspected narcotics traffickers scattered and fled. Officers pursued the suspects and arrested a total of 21 people, including the four defendants named in today’s indictment. The other 17 people were released.
Following the arrests, law enforcement recovered a total over 200 bales of marijuana from the panga boat, the Hollister Ranch Beach area, and the van, according to statements made in court. In total, the four defendants are charged with possessing with intent to distribute 2,138.5 kilograms (4,714.6 pounds) of marijuana, according to the indictment.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, California State Parks, California Highway Patrol, and the United States Coast Guard investigated this matter.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jamari Buxton of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section.
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March 12, 2020: Panga Boat Intercepted on Gaviota Coast
about 10 years ago, maybe more – our neighbor came home with a bail of weed. He had it rolled up in a tarp and said he found it bobbing in the water by hope ranch beach. I don’t know how much it weighed but it was about the size of two bags of charcoal. Pangas back then?
Why would they release the other 17 people? They are apparently locals that are involved with the illicit narcotics trade. Releasing them just means that they’ll be back to do it again.
4,700 lbs of dope on Goleta Beach? GOLEETOPIA! Party! Party!
9:06 – I had the same question. 17 other people? What, exactly, were they doing there – that they were arrested at the same time. I’ve been to Hollister Ranch, it’s not exactly a bustling metropolis…. Big picture, I don’t give one rats a** about pot, but if you’re going to prosecute, go full scope, not just the folk delivering the order.
Man if it’s anything like the Mexican weed i used to find in high school just test it for THC.. When it comes back negative you can let the guys go.
Can I have their boat?
Hope the Hollister Ranch gate guard was extensively interviewed.
If it’s the Cartel sending this weed via pangas, someone should let them know that Mexican weed has very little value here in California. Better to send it to the uneducated in the Midwest!
The Hollister Ranch is more difficult to access than a military base. There is no sneaking in. The van was let in by the gate guard and one or more of the wealthy parcel owners likely was involved. If the only persons prosecuted are the ones in the boat then truly justice is blind.
Gotta say our panga boat beach pictures look like travel ads. How lucky are we?
Lucy, you got some ‘splainin to do….,
Eggsactly
Couldn’t arrest the 17 others because law enforcement could not provide social distancing in the apprehension, booking and incarceration process. And local unlicensed growers are contributing to the glut on the market? Where is the best deal?
LOL! Looks like a small boat to be transporting 4 adult males and 4,715 pounds of MJ plus gas!! One would think it would be easier for the shippers, the original owners of this, to just buy into what is probably the THC capital of California, if not the US, Santa Barbara County, second only to Humboldt in legal weed-grows!
Uh Gaviota not Goleta.
And how did they get on the ranch…..
Never seen that before, listing who’s related to whom. **** It’s a family affair . . .And where does it read Hollister Ranch? Noozhawk?
Oops. I hadn’t seen extensive update w/ location. Ignore my ignorance.
What river do they take to get their panga boat to Iowa? Would that be cheaper than loading it into a U-Haul and driving it there from Gaviota? I haven’t heard of any of these boats being found empty on a local beach in a while so it seems like this is an endeavor with a low success rate.