PORT ANGELES — The crew of the Coast Guard cutter Swordfish, which is based in Port Angeles, found 24 kilograms — 52 pounds — of ecstasy with an estimated street value of $1 million on a boat near the San Juan Islands, the Coast Guard said.
Wen-Xian Zhang, 24, a citizen of Taiwan, was transferred to federal authorities Thursday afternoon for investigation of importation and possession with intent to distribute of 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), which is popularly known as ecstasy, the Coast Guard said.
A detention hearing is set Friday, said Petty Officer 1st Class George Degener, Coast Guard spokesman.
The crew of the Swordfish was on patrol near President’s Channel when the 20-foot pleasure craft was spotted, Degener said.
“This is an area of the waterway where there is a high potential for illegal activity,” Degener said.
The crew boarded the boat sometime between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
“They could see suspicious packages” aboard the craft, Degener said. Zhang was the only person on the boat.
Zhang, the drugs and the boat were taken to Station Bellingham.
The Coast Guard, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security and Intelligence, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Bellingham Police Department worked together on the arrest.
“This is a fantastic example of agencies working together,” Degener said.
“We are able to successfully keep a lot of drugs off the streets of the North Olympic Peninsula.”
