US Navy recovers 10 tons of pot

The US Navy said that nearly 10 tons of marijuana were recovered by an aircraft carrier group on Tuesday after being dumped in the Pacific Ocean, according to the Associated Press.

Two single-engine boats were spotted dumping the plastic bags on Saturday in the water near California's border with Mexico, said the Navy.

KPBS, a station based in San Diego, said the 186 bales of marijuana were probably headed to the US.

The bust began when the USS Nimitz spotted the vessels and helicopters flew overhead. The drug runners then began dumping the bales into the ocean, before speeding off. A third vessel was spotted a short distance away.

More on GlobalPost: New York Senate kills marijuana decriminalization bill

Lt. Aaron Kakiel, spokesman for the Naval Air Forces Pacific, said that no one was apprehended, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

The aircraft carrier Nimitz, along with guided-missile cruiser Princeton, two helicopter squadrons and the Mexican Navy, picked up the marijuana.

Nimitz Strike Group Commander Rear Adm. Pete Gumataotao said in a statement, "The combined efforts of each of our strike group components demonstrated the flexibility and capability that defines how we conduct business."

More on GlobalPost: Four tons of pot found floating in the Pacific

The pot was handed over to the Coast Guard, according to KPBS.

In May, the US Coast Guard picked up four tons of marijuana floating in the Pacific Ocean, 13 miles off the coast of Dana Point, California.

Drug runners usually drop bales when spotted by the authorities in order to make a quick getaway, Reuters noted at the time.

The sea route off the coast of California has become more commonly used by smugglers avoiding land border crossings, said Reuters.