The Nation - News from May 10, 1988

Government seizure of the lavish $2.5-million 133-foot yacht Ark Royal for less than a teaspoon of marijuana has spurred a petition drive to stop the government’s month-old “zero tolerance� policy on drug arrests. The ship, owned by the Tomima Corp., was confiscated by the Coast Guard in international waters in the Yucatan Channel Saturday. Custody of the Ark Royal was turned over to Customs Service agents in Key West, Fla. Actually, it was the seizure of the shrimper Miss Lorraine out of Key West after a tiny amount of marijuana was found on board last week that triggered the petition. “I know we have at least a couple thousand signatures,� said Sunny Phelps, who runs four shrimp boats with her husband.