8 dead in ‘worst maritime smuggling tragedies’ off San Diego beach

At least eight people were dead after two migrant smuggling boats capsized off a San Diego beach in a suspected human-smuggling operation, authorities said.

“This is one of the worst maritime smuggling tragedies that I can think of in California, certainly here in the city of San Diego,” said James Gartland, chief of the lifeguard division in San Diego.

Gartland said a woman called 911 at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday, saying she was on a panga boat with 15 people aboard that made it to the shore at Black’s Beach. Speaking in Spanish, the caller said another panga – relatively small fishing boats with outboard motors often used for smuggling operations – had capsized, and eight people were in the water.