FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BC
BUD MARIJUANA SMUGGLING
September 2, 2004
OPNET
OLYMPIC PENINSULA NARCOTICS ENFORCEMENT TEAM Press
Release
Approximately 400 pounds of marijuana was seized from an unoccupied sailboat discovered off Port Townsend Wednesday evening.
Investigators
from the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team and the
US Coast Guard were called when the Captain of a Washington State
Ferry sailing between Port Townsend and Keystone saw what appeared
to be a sailing vessel adrift in the shipping lanes at about 5:30.
Responding to a request by the Coast Guard, a private vessel assistance
company found the 20’ sailboat near Marrowstone Island with
no one on board. The boat was towed into the marina where the
crew of the assistance company entered the located cabin to try
and identify an owner. Once inside, they saw several bags. Opening
one, the crew found one of the bags contained packaged marijuana
and immediately turned the vessel and evidence over to members
of the Coast Guard Cutter Osprey. After unsuccessful attempts
to identify the unmarked boat, members of the Osprey contacted
investigators.
OPNET investigators obtained a search warrant to enter the boat. Inside, a total of twenty bags were discovered. An initial estimate indicates as much as 400 pounds of marijuana was seized. Value of this much marijuana can be as high as $1.2 million at wholesale prices. Although no definitive markings on the boat were discovered, and no identification could be located, there was evidence found that indicated the boat was from Canada.
OPNET,
Coast Guard and Dept. of Homeland Security are working together
on this continuing investigation. This is the second such incident
within the last week involving marijuana smuggling in our area.
On Saturday, August 28, OPNET and other federal
agencies arrested a subject at the John Wayne Marina who was found
in possession of almost 200 pounds of “BC Bud.” OPNET
personnel continue to investigate that case in cooperation with
several other federal agencies.
RCW
69.50.401
Case #2004-9804
Contact:
Capt. Ron Cameron
360-417-4999
360-681-9901 (pgr)