Pubdate: Wed, 21 Aug 2013
Source: Macomb Daily, The (MI)
Copyright: 2013 The Macomb Daily
Contact:  http://www.macombdaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2253
Author: Mitch Hotts
Page: A1

SCUBA DIVER ACCUSED OF SMUGGLING MARIJUANA INTO U.S. NEAR MARINE CITY

A Canadian man in a scuba suit was taken into custody by federal
authorities early Monday morning for attempting to smuggle eight
pounds of marijuana into the United States across the St. Clair River
near Marine City, officials said.

The incident occurred about 1 a.m. when U.S. Border Patrol agents
assigned to the Marysville Border Patrol station were notified by the
St. Clair County Central Dispatch about a tip they received from a
resident notifying of an individual swimming across the river.

"We picked up his image on our camera and could see he was carrying
something," said U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Kris
Grogan.

Grogan said agents contacted the operators of the Remote Video
Surveillance System camera at the Operational Integration Center at
Selfridge Air National Guard Base. The camera operator was able to
locate the individual in the river who appeared to be pulling behind
him a "dry bag" used by divers.

Border Patrol agents apprehended the suspect wearing a scuba suit
after he got out of the water. Agents then located a large, watertight
PVC cylinder holding more than eight pounds of marijuana tied to a
seawall ladder.

The suspect was turned over to the St. Clair County Drug Task
Force.

Grogan said this was the first time in his career that he has heard of
someone using scuba gear to smuggle drugs into the country.

"It's not something you see every day, but there's always something
going on around here, that's for sure," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt