SAN DIEGO -- U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a 30-year-old Mexican national Sunday for attempting to smuggle over 24 pounds of marijuana on a surfboard while paddling along the coast off Imperial Beach, authorities reported.

According to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection news release, at about 6 a.m. Sunday, Border Patrol agents spotted a man on a surfboard approximately 200 yards off-shore paddling north of the international border off Imperial Beach.

Agents said the surfer was holding a blue duffel bag which he released into the water while he continued to paddle north.

When agents directed the surfer to come ashore, he complied by coming close to the shore but then refused to exit the water.

Agents, who subsequently had to go in the water to arrest the surfer, said the surfer admitted that he was a citizen of Mexico illegally within the United States.

Soon after, the blue duffle bag floated ashore and was inspected by U.S. Border Patrol agents. The bag held 5 packages of marijuana that weighted 24.90 pounds and had an estimated street value of more than $74,700.

The suspected smuggler and the marijuana were turned over to a multi-agency, anti-drug task force, Border Patrol officials said.