Authorities Respond to Luxury Yacht Crash on Nova Scotia Shore, Uncover $1.5M Onboard
Halifax, NS — A routine rescue operation turned into a sensational discovery this week when a yacht arriving from the Caribbean ran aground near the eastern shore of Nova Scotia.
June 30, 2025 at 20:55 | By Olivia Parker, Prairie Signal
A routine rescue operation off the coast of Nova Scotia turned into a high-stakes investigation this week after authorities discovered over $1.5 million hidden aboard a grounded luxury yacht. The 95-foot vessel, which ran aground near Lawrencetown Beach east of Halifax, initially drew attention from local maritime officials responding to a distress call Tuesday afternoon.
According to the Canadian Coast Guard, the yacht, registered in the Cayman Islands, issued a call for assistance after reportedly experiencing engine trouble while navigating stormy waters. By the time rescue teams arrived, the vessel had drifted dangerously close to the rocky shoreline and was firmly lodged in shallow surf.
Emergency crews assisted three individuals off the yacht, all of whom were described as uninjured and cooperative. However, as the situation unfolded, provincial police joined the operation to assess the safety of the vessel and determine the cause of the grounding. What followed was an unexpected turn in the incident’s trajectory.
During a routine safety inspection, officers observed signs of compartment tampering below deck. A thorough search uncovered several concealed packages wrapped in watertight plastic and stashed inside false panels near the yacht’s fuel tank. The packages contained stacks of Canadian and U.S. currency amounting to approximately $1.5 million.
Nova Scotia RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Danielle Foster confirmed the cash seizure in a press briefing Wednesday morning. 'We can confirm that the money was not declared by the passengers nor included in any manifest documents,' she said. 'We are now working in coordination with federal financial intelligence units to determine the source and intended destination of the funds.'
The yacht’s passengers—two men and one woman, all reportedly non-Canadian nationals—are currently being questioned. Authorities have not disclosed their nationalities, but confirmed that all three were in possession of valid identification. None have been formally charged, though they remain under investigation.
Transport Canada officials said the yacht’s navigation logs appeared incomplete and that its AIS (Automatic Identification System) had been intermittently disabled in recent days. This raised questions about whether the vessel had deliberately sought to obscure its route prior to arriving near Halifax waters.
Local law enforcement noted that this was not the first time a luxury vessel had attracted suspicion along Nova Scotia’s shores. In 2022, a similar case involving undeclared cash aboard a sailboat prompted a joint investigation by the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Residents in the nearby Lawrencetown community expressed shock at the unfolding drama. 'It’s the kind of thing you see in movies, not right outside your front window,' said one beachgoer who witnessed part of the response. 'We saw the helicopter overhead and rescue crews running in—it all happened fast.'
Marine salvage teams were dispatched Thursday to begin assessing how to safely remove the yacht from its precarious position without causing environmental damage. Officials say fuel containment booms have been deployed as a precaution, though there are currently no signs of leakage.
The RCMP emphasized that no narcotics, weapons, or contraband were found aboard the yacht aside from the cash. Forensic experts are now analyzing the money for fingerprints, trace materials, and serial numbers, which may provide leads about its origin or prior handling.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans and CBSA have both been looped into the investigation, particularly to evaluate whether international smuggling routes may be involved. Authorities have stressed that the situation remains fluid and that updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
For now, the yacht remains grounded and under guard, a stark reminder of the surprises that can emerge from even routine maritime operations. The story continues to ripple across Halifax, with speculation growing over how such a high-value sum ended up adrift along Canada’s Atlantic edge.