A cutter crew from the U.S. Coast Guard on Wednesday recovered more than 3,000 pounds of marijuana floating in the Pacific Ocean - about 35 miles west of Mission Beach.
A Navy helicopter first discovered the 77 bales of marijuana bobbing off the coast of San Diego, according to a Coast Guard news release.
The Navy informed Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility San Diego of the find, which in turn contacted the Coast Guard:
A Coast Guard Jayhawk helicopter crew and Customs and Border Protection Blackhawk helicopter crew assisted the cutter crew in locating 72 bales. A response boat crew rendezvoused with the cutter and recovered the remaining five bales.
Marine Task Force San Diego will be responsible for disposing of the pot, the origin of which is still unknown.
