Canadian sailor busted with 742 litres of meth off Oregon coast: U.S. officials

A Canadian man has been charged after nearly 200 gallons (757litres)of liquid meth were allegedly found on the sailboat he was piloting off the coast of Oregon earlier this week, according to U.S. prosecutors.

A statement said John PhillipStirling, 65, displayed signs of an overdose when U.S. Coast Guard personnel boarded his boat about 415kilometres off Newport, Ore., on Tuesday.

While Stirling was being questioned, "his speech began to deteriorate," the statement read.

Stirling was evacuated by helicopter for medical treatment. The statement said coast guard personnel searched his boat, the U.S.-registeredMandalay, and found 28 seven-gallon(26.5-litre) jugs with liquid methamphetamine inside.

The U.S. District Attorney's office in Oregon said Stirling wascharged on Thursday with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Hemade an initial appearancein federal court in Portland, Ore., onFriday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman and was ordered detained, pending trial.