FBI Launches Mysterious Search For Evidence In Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, NJ (CBS) -- The FBI on Tuesday launched an extensive and exhaustive search off an Ocean City fishing pier.

The target of the probe remained a mystery by early evening.

Air bubbles revealed two divers moving about below the murky surface of the bay. They scoured the bottom for what a bureau spokeswoman would only say was a "search for evidence."

The FBI confirmed the dive was not part of a drill and declined to answer a list of questions concerning the public search.

Joe Kramer, of Northfield, was close by doing some fishing. He says the divers would only pop in and out of the water with clumps of seaweed.

At the height of the summer vacation season down the shore, Ocean City officials didn't say much about the very public investigation unfolding on a fishing pier.

Asked for information, a city spokesman issued a statement, reading in-part:

"Residents and visitors should not be alarmed as there is no threat to public safety and there are no active incidents that this is related to."
FBI agents declined to comment at the scene.

It's unclear if they found what they were looking for.

After several hours, agents packed up a pair of tents and diving equipment and left the area. Two Ocean City police officers remained on the fishing pier until a part of the railing removed to conduct the dive is replaced.