John Philip Stirling, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Oregon 2019

Methamphetamine Trafficking Plagues Oregon Coast

A Canadian national has been brought to justice for his role in a brazen methamphetamine trafficking operation off the coast of Oregon. John Philip Stirling, 66, a citizen of Canada, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine under the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act (MDLEA).

According to official reports, on April 9, 2019, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alert detected a sailing vessel, the Mandalay, traveling north from Mexico to Canada in international waters. The vessel, with a home port of Seattle, Washington, was found to be within the jurisdiction of the U.S.

When Coast Guard personnel boarded the Mandalay, they found Stirling to be the sole occupant. He refused to produce identification and claimed not to have vessel documentation. However, his speech began to deteriorate, and he displayed signs of a possible drug overdose, prompting Coast Guard personnel to administer medical aid.

Stirling had consumed a large amount of what he believed to be pure fentanyl, but was later determined to be pentobarbital. He was evacuated by helicopter to Astoria, Oregon, and later transported to Adventist Health Portland for additional treatment.

During the search of the Mandalay, investigators discovered 28 jugs containing more than seven gallons of liquid methamphetamine each and a duffel bag containing several plastic-wrapped bricks of pentobarbital. The investigation revealed that the drugs had been loaded onto the Mandalay from another vessel in the Sea of Cortez for delivery to Canada.

Stirling pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine under the MDLEA on January 13, 2020. This case was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The case serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat of methamphetamine trafficking in the region and the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies to combat this crime.

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