Tri-Service
Royal Navy In Britain's Biggest Ever Drugs Bust
The Royal Navy has achieved Britain's biggest ever drugs bust.
Working with the National Crime Agency and the UK Border Force, HMS Somerset assisted by the cutter Valiant intercepted an ocean going tug in the North Sea last week.
The MV Hamal has since yielded three tonnes of cocaine - which if cut and sold in the UK could have a street value of more than £500 million.
After being stopped by the Royal Navy the vessel was taken to Aberdeen where a search by Border Force officers with 'specialist deep rummage skills' found the huge haul of the Class A drug.
John McGowan, a senior investigating officer with the NCA, said...
"The search of this vessel has been lengthy and painstaking.. The result is this massive discovery – believed to be the biggest single class A drug seizure on record in the UK."
“Our investigation continues, but the operation was only possible thanks to the close co-operation between the NCA, Border Force, the Royal Navy, plus the French DNRED and our other international partners."
The nine Turkish crew of the tug have been remanded in custody having been charged with drug trafficking offences.
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