Medjuck

AMENDED MEMORANDUM OPINION

I. INTRODUCTION

This case charges the defendants with a maritime conspiracy spanning several years and various nations. The object was to un- port 70 tons of hashish from Pakistan to North America aboard a freighter called the Lucky Star. The 70-ton load of hashish made its way to the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Over two tons of hashish were transferred from the Lucky Star to an offload vessel and taken to California, where a number of the conspirators were arrested. The maritime drug conspiracy ended after the United States Navy interdicted the Lucky Star and its 68 remaining tons of hashish on the high seas.

Defendants Michael Medjuck and Charles Peter Sotirkys , along with defendants Dennis Feroce, Jack Hayden, Raymond Ainge, Barry Shantz, and Larry Stanley, were charged in a 28-count superseding indictment with, inter alia, three counts of violating the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act, (“MDLEA”), 46 U.S.CApp. § 1903, relating to the 70 tons of hashish on board the Lucky Star. The MDLEA prohibits the possession, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. 46 U.S.CApp.…