BORDER PATROL CONTINUES SEARCH FOR OWNER OF MARIJUANA VESSEL

MASSENA - U. S. Border Patrol agents are still trying to trace the
ownership, and find the operator, of a boat containing 60 pounds of
marijuana that was seizes after a pursuit on the St. Lawrence River.

"We are running it down," said Leslie M. Lawson, assistant chief
patrol agent for the Border Patrol's Swanton, Vt. sector as agents try
to trace the origin of an 18-foot johnboat and motor that were seized
late on April 1 by a joint patrol of Border Patrol agents and U. S.
Coast Guard members from Alexandria Bay.

"We were out patrolling the St. Lawrence. We attempted to stop this
vessel for inspection as it came in from Canadian waters," Ms. Lawson
said.

The unidentified boater, believed to be a man, refused to comply when
ordered to stop for inspection and a short pursuit ensued.

"We attempted to intercept and the operator ran the vessel aground,"
Ms. Lawson said.

The smuggler jumped into the water, waded to shore and fled in the
dark. A search by agents and St. Regis Mohawk Tribal police failed to
find him.

The boats cargo of high-grade, hydroponically grown marijuana was
turned over to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Ms. Lawson
said. The boat, which was not registered, and motor are being stored
in Canton while efforts are being made to trace their origin, she said.

The boat, the motor and the marijuana have an estimated value of
$236,500, Ms. Lawson said.

"The majority of the value was in the marijuana, not the boat," she said.