DETROIT – A 24-year-old Canadian scuba diver is facing a charge of attempting to smuggle marijuana across the St. Clair River.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Kris Grogan says agents were alerted to the diver early on Monday morning by a boat on the river near Marine City, Mich.
Border officers say they spotted the man – who appeared to be pulling a dry bag used by divers as he swam – using a remote surveillance video.
Officers met the man as he was climbing up a sea wall on the U.S. side of the river and say they seized 3.6 kilograms of marijuana inside a plastic cylinder.
Grogan says Marine City is down river from Sarnia, Ont., but he’s not sure where the man, who is believed to be from Windsor, Ont., entered the river.
St. Clair County Deputy Steve Campau says he expects the man will be arraigned Wednesday on charges of possession with attempt to deliver marijuana.
The man didn’t try to flee when the police appeared, Grogan said.
“I think he was probably pretty tired. It’s not a short swim, that’s for sure.”
He estimated the river is nearly a kilometre wide at that point, with strong currents.
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