Seaport Law Enforcement: Los Angeles

Los Angeles Port Police Seize 500 Pounds of Marijuana

Los Angeles Port Police officers at the scene of a major marijuana seizure at a local marina earlier this month.
Photo/Los Angeles Port Police 

On the afternoon of March 14, Los Angeles Port Police Marine Unit officers while on patrol in Los Angeles Harbor discovered an unoccupied boat at the Cabrillo Beach Launch Ramp. An investigation revealed several hundred pounds of marijuana in the boat. Los Angeles Port Police Detectives assigned to LA BEST (Los Angeles Border Enforcement Security Task Force) are continuing the investigation in collaboration with Port Police.

The LA BEST is tasked with identifying, targeting, and reducing security vulnerabilities affecting the Los Angeles/ Long Beach seaport complex, the Southern California coastline, and the waterways and transportation infrastructure.

LA BEST is made up of personnel from nine federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard Criminal Investigations Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles Port Police, the Long Beach Police Department, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

The Los Angeles Port Police is one of the few American law enforcement agencies dedicated exclusively to seaport activities With its staff of 135 sworn officers, the agency enforces all federal, state, and local laws applicable to port responsibilities, including cargo protection, pollution investigation, vessel traffic control and narcotics interdiction.