Saanich man charged in cross-border drug bust
Posted April 25, 2018 11:53 am.
Last Updated April 25, 2018 12:01 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS 1130) – A man from Saanich has been charged with smuggling and possession and an American man has pleaded guilty to similar offences following what RCMP and US border agents are calling a major cross-border drug bust.
William Barnes, 51, is charged with 11 counts of possession, trafficking, firearms and smuggling for accusations he brought more than 100 kilograms of drugs between the United States and Canada. Barnes was arrested on Feb. 23, 2017, but BC RCMP say the information is only now being released because charges have been approved.
RCMP Chief Supt. Keith Finn says a six-month, cross-border investigation with authorities in the United States found two vessels meeting on multiple occasions just south of San Juan Island, between Vancouver Island and Washington state.
Finn says police seized 55 kilograms of cocaine, 47 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and more than a kilogram of heroin in February 2017 after one of the vessels docked in Canada.
Two high speed vessels, firearms and $150,000 in cash were also seized.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials say Gary Horton of Washington state has pleaded guilty to trafficking-related charges in this case and will be sentenced in September.
