Two boats stolen from the United States Navy have been recovered in Sechelt.
The boats were recovered after a joint investigation by the U.S. Navy Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS) and local RCMP into a multi-million dollar heist of U.S. government surplus goods. It is alleged that two half-brothers exploited a computer database of U.S. goods to steal the boats and other vehicles and equipment, according to Sgt. Stuart Falebrinza of the Sunshine Coast RCMP.
"We had the request from NCIS saying they had one male in custody and requested us to go seize the property. That was mainly our task," added Cpl. Todd Creed.
NCIS agents located the boats, an 8.5-metre Boston whaler and a 14-metre sailboat called NSY Lively, and contacted the foreign liaison section of the RCMP in December to assist in their recovery.
The whaler was towed from a Sea Otter Road summer residence in Garden Bay on Dec. 16 after RCMP received a warrant to enter the property. The NSY Lively was recovered from the government wharf in Porpoise Bay on Dec. 17.
Associated Press has identified the suspects, now in custody in the U.S., as Steven Bradley Smith and Bradley Garner, though local RCMP are not releasing the names.
Creed indicated the brothers chose to bring the boats to the Sunshine Coast because Garner, a Canadian citizen, owns the property in Garden Bay, which he uses as a summer home.
The whaler was taken to storage at the Garden Bay tow yard, while the RCMP West Coast Marine Unit towed the Lively to the Institute for Ocean Sciences where it is to be picked up by the U.S. Navy.
Creed said the NSY Lively had been sailed to the Coast, and the whaler went through customs illegally on a trailer.
Liaising with NCIS was done mostly through emails to RCMP Const. Cathleen Falebrinza. Falebrinza said it did not appear the boats were going to be sold.
"It has not been confirmed what the plans for the boats were; however, it appears to me to be for recreational use," she said.
Creed said this is the first time in his memory the NCIS and RCMP co-operating in an investigation. "This is something new for us," Creed said.
