![Seafaring Drug Smugglers Challenging Coast Guard](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2013/05/Drugs-photo-courtesy-of-Vermilion-Parish-Sheriffs-Office.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Seafaring Drug Smugglers Challenging Coast Guard
SAN DIEGO (AP) — While security has been tightened along the U.S.-Mexico border, smugglers are increasingly turning to the high seas.
U.S. authorities say the area where boats were seized off the Pacific coasts of Mexico's Baja California and California tripled to a size comparable to the state of Montana in square miles in the 2013 fiscal year, which ended in September.
While off South America, traffickers over the years have been traversing territory so big the continental United States could be dropped inside of it.
The Coast Guard's Adm. Robert Papp says budget cuts prompted his service to reduce its operating costs by 25 percent in 2013.
More From News Talk 96.5 KPEL
![2 people pulled from water after Baltimore’s Key Bridge collapses, 1 in serious condition](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/03/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-03-26T054515.706.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![U.S. Coast Guard Suspends Search for Helicopter in Gulf of Mexico](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2022/12/attachment-US-Coast-Guard-Downed-Helicopter-Search.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![U.S. Coast Guard Searching Gulf of Mexico for Helicopter Just South of Louisiana](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2022/09/attachment-GettyImages-1227636232.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Cruise Guest Rescued off Louisiana Coast After Falling Overboard](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2022/11/attachment-Carnival-Valor-Nog-Vlog-via-YouTube.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Passenger Medevacked Off Carnival Glory Out of New Orleans After Experiencing Medical Issues](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2022/06/attachment-Coast-Guard-Medevacking-Passenger-from-Carnival-Glory.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Coast Guard Suspends Search For Missing Vermilion Bay Boater](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2016/08/Coast-Guard-Mike-Ehrmann-Getty-Images-Sport.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Coast Guard Searching for Missing Person Near Grand Isle](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2016/08/Coast-Guard-Mike-Ehrmann-Getty-Images-Sport.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Helicopter, Two Aboard Missing In Gulf](http://townsquare.media/site/29/files/2019/12/GettyImages-458044624.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Local Boater Missing In Vermilion Bay](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2016/08/Coast-Guard-Mike-Ehrmann-Getty-Images-Sport.jpg?w=980&q=75)