Rescued Kayaker May Be Sunk After Marijuana Found In Boat

A kayaker who ran into rough water in Haro Strait now finds himself in hot water.

Grant Novak, 25, of Bellingham, was rescued and then arrested after Canadian authorities found eight plastic bags filled with marijuana in the kayak, authorities said.

Novak was heading to the San Juan Islands from Canada’s Vancouver Island when his kayak was swamped. The front hatch blew off and the front hold filled with water, forcing Novak to call for help on a VHF radio, authorities said of the Dec. 6 incident.

“When we first got the report, we were amused,” said San Juan County Sheriff Bill Cumming. “We found it fairly incredible someone would attempt that kind of journey, especially with the weather we were having.”

A Canadian Coast Guard rescue helicopter plucked Novak from the choppy water. Novak already was at a hospital when a Canadian Navy patrol boat recovered the kayak and found about seven pounds of marijuana in it, according to court documents.

Because Novak was in U.S. waters at the time, he was taken into custody by the Island County sheriff’s office.

Court documents allege Novak admitted he paid $9,000 for the marijuana in Canada and was returning to the United States to sell it.