Blaine man sentenced to 10 years for 2020 border drug bust

An Abbotsford Provincial Court judge sentenced Blaine resident Zacchary Marcus Scott Hecock to 10 years in prison for smuggling 436 pounds of methamphetamine into Canada. 

At the time of the drug bust, Canadian officials described it as one of the largest amounts seized crossing the U.S./Canada border.

In July 2020, Hecock and another U.S. citizen illegally crossed the U.S./Canada border near Mt. Lehman Road in Abbotsford, northeast of Lynden between Hammer and Southwell roads, on an ATV with a loaded trailer, according to a RCMP release. 

Between RCMP officers, the Abbotsford Police Department and U.S. Border Patrol agents, the two suspects were located. Hecock was apprehended on the scene and duffle bags containing 436 pounds of methamphetamine were seized. 

The second suspect fled the area, but was identified during the investigation. According to RCMP, no charges have been laid on the second suspect yet. 

Hecock pleaded guilty to charges of importing a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking on February 22. 

Hecock was sentenced to 10 years in
prison, a 10-year firearm prohibition and a DNA order, according to RCMP. 

“I’m extremely proud of the daily work being done by the men and women of the Integrated Border Enforcement Team who work tirelessly to ensure our borders are secure while limiting the influx of toxic drugs into our communities,” Bert Ferreira, officer in charge of the B.C. RCMP Border Integrity Program, said in a statement. 

The RCMP statement said this case is an example of the effectiveness of the comprehensive border enforcement team, which continues to focus on proactive enforcement initiatives and intelligence sharing with partner agencies. “Their efforts have resulted in meaningful seizures and apprehensions, which continue in spite of the Covid-19
pandemic.”