15 Held in Record Seizure of Hashish
U.S. authorities found 100 tons of hashish on a freighter in the Pacific and arrested 15 people on drug charges in what was called the largest government hashish seizure on record.
The seizure, which combined military and law enforcement efforts, more than doubled the previous record of 43 tons found in San Francisco in 1986, U.S. Customs Service agent Rollin Klink said.
The Lucky Star, registered to the Caribbean island nation of St. Vincent, first drew the attention of law enforcement and Navy officials because it was operating outside normal shipping channels, authorities said.
The 360-foot freighter drew further attention by reversing course in the middle of the ocean, U.S. Atty. Daniel Bent said.
The hashish was formally seized Thursday about 600 miles west of Midway Island. It has an estimated street value of $1.2 billion, Klink said.
The ship was escorted into Pearl Harbor on Friday by the Navy destroyer Ingersoll.
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