Holberg, BC

1973 – The Holberg Hash Cache – Assorted Sources

The following detail has been provided by Curt Usherwood.

The "Marysville", an ex RCN minesweeper, brought the Hash Cache across the Pacific. The Marysville had been shadowed by submarine and maritime patrol aircraft. The drugs were eventually transferred from the Marysville to a fishing boat which sailed into the Holberg Inlet.

By the time that the RCMP nabbed the Marysville and the fishing boat, they were unable to find anything illegal on either vessel - since the Hash was already on shore.

The RCMP searched for three days and then asked for help from the CFS Holberg Ground Search Team - which eventually found the stash. The RCMP wanted everything to be kept quiet. When the story broke, MARPAC Ops went ballistic as there had not been any official request, through them, for an "aid to civil power" and there was stories that MARPAC Ops had wanted AirComHQ to fire Lt. Colonel Hodgson, who was the Commanding Officer at Holberg. The Air Commander asked for an explanation, was provided with one, and he then congratulated the CO. I can verify these statements as I read the messages.

It was odd to see the RCMP under cover guys which were brought in for the search. They had beards, guns, cowboy boots and many were disguised as young hippies. The stash was hidden near Quatsino.