Boat sold by police is again in trouble

Herald Staff Report

FORT PIERCE A 57 foot ketch named the Mystique has a knack for sailing
into hot water.

In 1995, U.S. Customs seized the vessel in Fort Pierce after it was found
carrying 636 pounds of cocaine. The boat was later sold at auction.

Now the Mystique is back in federal custody, this time for smuggling hash
oil from Jamaica. Working on a tip, authorities monitored the last voyage
of the Mystique, which began in West Palm Beach on July 18. When it
reappeared off the coast of Florida on Sept. 23, the U.S. Coast Guard
escorted it to Fort Pierce, where Customs agents found 400 pounds of
marijuana and 280 pounds of hash oil from Jamaica concealed in three false
fuel tanks.

Indicted on federal drug smuggling charges Thursday in the case were the
owner and captain, William Kiernan, 40, of North Palm Beach, who bought the
boat from Customs at a forfeiture auction last year; his brother, James
Kiernan, 39, of Merritt Island; Herbert Johnson, 53, of Key West, who
authorities said tried to take possession of the drugs from the Kiernans;
and two Canadians, Robin Summerhayes, 36, of the city of Ontario, Ontario
and Glenn Day of Cutler, Ontario.

John Land, 35, of Royal Palm Beach, was also indicted on smuggling charges
and is expected to surrender to Customs agents in Fort Pierce today,
authorities said.

Hash oil is produced by a process of repeated extraction of cannabis to
yield a dark liquid in which a drop or two has the same psychoactive effect
as a joint of pot. The five in custody are being held at the St. Lucie
County Jail.

Copyright 1997 The Miami Herald