Bellingham CBP agents seize 1,500 pounds of meth and arrest the Canadian piloting the boat

BELINGHAM — U.S. Customs and Border Protection Marine Interdiction agents from Bellingham seized nearly 1,500 pounds of methamphetamine and arrested a Canadian citizen who was piloting the boat it was found on Wednesday in the San Juan Islands.

CBP announced the seizure, which was made southwest of Stuart Island by the Bellingham Marine Branch along with other CBP partners, was announced in a news release Thursday, May 26.

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“Due to the vigilance and exceptional skills of our Marine Interdiction Agents, the Bellingham Air and Marine Branch was able to prevent these dangerous narcotics from harming members of our communities,” Director of the Air and Marine Operations Bellingham Air and Marine Branch Jeremy Thompson said in the release. “This latest incident is a testament to the collaboration and dedication CBP personnel in keeping communities on both sides of the border safe.”

The Marine Interdiction agents and CBP Office of Field Operations crew members performed an inspection of a vessel in U.S. waters, approximately a half-mile from the U.S.-Canada border, according to the release.

Once they boarded the vessel, marine interdiction agents found 28 duffle bags containing cellophane-wrapped cylinder-shaped packages, according to the release. Tests of the package contents later reveled that they contained methamphetamine, the release states.

In addition to the nearly 1,500 pounds on methamphetamine, agents also seized the vessel and a Glock 9 mm handgun, according to the release, and arrested the Canadian citizen piloting the boat.

According to the AddictionCenter.com, meth can be worth up to $60 per gram, meaning Wednesday’s seizure could be worth in excess of $40 million.

Homeland Security Investigations will continue to investigate the case.