United States v. Gilliam Raymond Coats A/K/A Jack Long, A/K/A Bill Walters

DONALD RUSSELL, Circuit Judge:

Defendant/appellant appeals from his conviction under 21 U.S.C. §§ 952(a), 960(a)(1), and 963, of conspiracy to import marijuana. His primary contention on appeal concerns the search and seizure of the vessel used to transport the marijuana. The facts pertinent to that search and seizure may be briefly stated: in January of 1978 the United States Coast Guard was engaged in patrolling the Caribbean sea lanes for general law enforcement purposes with a special emphasis on drug interdiction. On January 25th the Coast Guard Cutter ALERT spotted the LADY ELLEN, a…