Police investigate suspicious sailboat in the Gaspé region, N.B

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is requesting the assistance of residents in the areas of Gaspé’s Chaleur Bay and Campbellton, N.B., who, in early October, may have witnessed suspicious activity involving an American sailboat, named the Eternity, as it was sailing illegally in Canadian waters.

The Canada Border Services Agency intercepted the sailboat at the port of Belledune in New Brunswick, after it failed to report to Canada Customs. After questioning the crew members and inspecting the sailboat, the Canada Border Services Agency handed the case over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The RCMP is currently investigating an alleged drug smuggling operation that presumably took place in Chaleur Bay around October 4, 2011. It is believed that the sailboat came from South America and that the smuggling operation involved foreign crew members and a boat owner who acted with the assistance of individuals in Québec. A second sailboat, also sailing from South America, could also be involved.