Trucker Gets 12 Years for Smuggling 'BC Bud' for Ring led by Kirkland Man

A Canadian truck driver who smuggled tons of “BC bud’ for an international drug ring led by a Kirkland man was sentenced Tuesday to 12 years in prison.

James Postelthwaite of North Vancouver, 60, was convicted conspiracy to distribute marijuana after a three-day trial late last year, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office for Western Washington.

He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour in Seattle, who said Postelthwaite “understood the size and scope of the conspiracy,” and was also responsible for smuggling smuggling cocaine into Canada.  “Cocaine has had a devastating impact on the streets of Vancouver,” the judge said at sentencing.

In October, 40-year-old Jacob Saul Stuart of Kirkland -- who posed as a stay-at-home soccer dad while leading the ring -- was sentenced to 15 years in prison; see that story by clicking here.

Investigators with DEA and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) cracked the case using court authorized wire taps, which showed the ring was transporting and distributing 1,000 to 2,000 pounds of marijuana and 100 to 200 kilos of cocaine every month.  The marijuana was smuggled into the U.S. from Canada and proceeds were used to purchase cocaine in Southern California.

After search warrants were served on a Seattle warehouse in April 2011, agents learned more about a hidden compartment in Postelthwaite’s semi that allowed him to transport as many as 95 loads of drugs across the border.  Each load was hundreds of pounds of BC Bud – the hidden compartment could hold more than 600 pounds.  Postelthwaite was arrested March 9, 2012 as he tried to drive a different truck into the U.S. from Canada at the Eastport, Idaho, Port of Entry. He has been in custody since then.

In addition to Stuart and Postelthwaite, several other members of the ring have been sentenced.