Defendants, citizens of the United Kingdom, Bermuda, the Federal Republic of Germany and the United States, were operators of a sailing vessel on the high seas that was registered in the United Kingdom and flying the UK flag. Defendants were indicted for possession of several tons of marijuana, with intent to distribute, following a search and seizure of their vessel by the United States Coast Guard. Initially, the court granted defendants’ request for an evidentiary hearing. However, upon further consideration, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (per Legge, J.) held: that the court had proper jurisdiction, and that defendants’ motions to suppress evidence obtained from the boarding, search and seizure of the vessel and to conduct an evidentiary hearing should be denied.

Jurisdiction — Continental Shelf — High Seas Above the Continental Shelf — Protection of Fisheries and National Resources.

Jurisdiction on the High Seas — Exercise of National Jurisdiction on the High Seas Covering the Continental Shelf — Enforcement of International Convention for Protection of Fisheries and Other Natural Resources — Declaration of Maritime Zone by Peru, Chile and Ecuador, 1952 — The Law of Peru.

Jurisdiction on the High Seas — Assistance and Salvage — Assistance Rendered by Warship — Whether Flag State Entitled to Salvage — Article 14 of Brussels Convention on Assistance and Salvage at Sea, 1910.

Jurisdiction on the High Seas — Hot Pursuit — Final Act of the Hague Codification Conference of 1930.

Jurisdiction on the High Seas — Enforcement of Hovering, Revenue and other Municipal Laws — The Maritime Frontier.