An abandoned panga boat believed to have been used to smuggle drugs was found on Tajiguas Beach west of Santa Barbara about 8:55 a.m. Friday.

Investigators did not find suspects or drugs in the nearby area, according to Raquel Zick, a spokeswoman for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department.

Personnel from the Sheriff’s Department and State Parks who responded to the scene discovered that the 35-foot panga boat was equipped with two motors, Zick said, adding that several fuel canisters were found discarded in nearby kelp.

Homeland Security Investigations took possession of the boat for further investigation.

— Noozhawk staff writer Jade Martinez-Pogue can be reached at jmartinez-pogue@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.