$7M Drug Bust: Man Tries to Smuggle Drugs from California to Canada on Jet Ski; Finally Convicted
A man from the United States has been found guilty of various charges connected to an incident in which he tried to transport $7 million worth of fentanyl and methamphetamines in duffel bags into Canada on a jet ski in April 2021.
John Michael Sherwood, 67, collaborated with a Canadian accomplice to transport over 400 pounds of drugs from California to Port Angeles, Washington, as stated in a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington in 2022.
Authorities reported that he intended to utilize a jet ski and inflatable raft to traverse the Strait of Juan de Fuca in order to transport the substances to an individual on Vancouver Island.
Sherwood has been found guilty of multiple charges including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to commit international money laundering in Seattle, Washington on August 2. The jury reached their verdict after three hours of deliberation.
Another person involved in drug smuggling, Erika A. Bocelle from Rhode Island, has pleaded guilty and is now awaiting sentencing, as reported by CTV News Vancouver.
Prosecutors presented evidence during the trial that Sherwood had made multiple attempts to smuggle drugs from the U.S. to Canada, transporting them from southern California to the Olympic Peninsula. A family, a beachcomber, and another individual walking on a beach near Port Angeles made an unexpected discovery: duffels of drugs and a raft.
A duffel bag containing over 50 pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of fentanyl powder was discovered by a family camping on the beach, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
According to the statement, another individual noticed suspicious activity and promptly informed the authorities. They observed a U-Haul van making trips to and from the beach and discovered a partially submerged raft of the Zodiac-style.
Three days later, a passerby discovered seven duffel bags concealed beneath a bridge on the beach. The bags held a staggering 342 pounds of methamphetamine.
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, the FBI was able to track various activities, such as the purchase of duffels, rental of a U-Haul, registration at a motel, and records from a storage locker, back to Sherwood.
Multiple American and Canadian law enforcement agencies collaborated in their joint investigation.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office press statement from 2022 highlighted the significant quantity of drugs discovered, leading to the defendants potentially facing minimum sentences of 10 years to life in prison.
Sherwood’s sentencing has been scheduled for October 29 by Judge James L. Robart.
Source: Newsweek
