Canadian authorities arrested Blaine resident Zacchary Marcus Scott Hecock, 28, on July 20 in what officials described to Canadian media as one of the largest drug busts across the border.
The Public Prosecution Service of Canada charged Hecock with importation and possession of methamphetamine the day after he attempted to cross the U.S./Canada border with 198 kilograms, or 436 pounds, of the illegal substance.
Hecock and an unnamed male suspect crossed the U.S./Canada border near Mt. Lehman Road in Abbotsford, according to a release from the RCMP. The area is near Hammer and Southwell roads in Lynden.
Citizens reported that Hecock and the other suspect crossed 0 Ave in an ATV with an attached trailer, according to the press release.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Border Integrity Enforcement Team, Abbotsford Police and U.S. Border Patrol responded to the incident. Hecock was arrested in a Canadian blueberry field and the vehicles were confiscated, the release states.
According to a July 24 Vancouver Sun article titled “Mexican consul calls for probe after migrant worker bitten by police dog,” the Vancouver Police Department was appointed to investigate allegations of Abbotsford police misconduct that occurred when searching for the second suspect. Two migrant workers said they were held at gunpoint and one was bitten by a police dog, which led to hospital treatment.
Hecock, who is in custody, is working to get a lawyer and will appear at Abbotsford Provincial Court for his second hearing on Tuesday, August 4. Hecock is from Ferndale and last worked as an installer at Jensen Lee Construction, where he has not worked since 2019, according to his Facebook page.
CBP press officer Jason Givens said the arrest in Abbotsford is part of an ongoing investigation and couldn’t provide details on the U.S. Border Patrol’s involvement by press time.
Canadian officials didn’t respond to multiple media requests from The Northern Light by press time.
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