A 24-year-old Windsor man accused of smuggling marijuana into Michigan by scuba diving has been arraigned in a Michigan court.
Jesse James Thomas Zunti is charged with one count of controlled substance, deliver/manufacture marijuana, a four year felony, according to St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon.
He was arraigned Wednesday morning in Marine City’s 72nd District Court.
Police say a citizen first discovered Zunti swimming in full scuba gear across the St. Clair River from Canada to Marine City early Monday morning.
The citizen contacted St. Clair County police, who alerted members of the U.S. Border Patrol. Agents apprehended Zunti after he exited the water in the Marine City area.
Border officials say they found a watertight PVC pipe containing over eight pounds of marijuana tied to a seawall ladder. Zunti was turned over to the St. Clair County Drug Task Force, which accepted the case for prosecution.
Zunti is in the St. Clair County Intervention and Detention Center. Bond was set at $100,000 cash/surety.
His next court date is a preliminary exam scheduled for Sept. 4th at 9 a.m. before Judge Michael Hulewicz in Marine City.
