Royal Navy Drugs Bust in Caribbean

HMS Argyll in successful drug operation.

Royal Navy Drugs Bust in Caribbean

A Royal Navy warship has seized £21 million worth of cocaine after a 12-hour pursuit across the Caribbean.

After receiving information that a suspicious-looking vessel had been spotted by a maritime patrol aircraft, HMS Argyll, which is on counter-narcotics operations in the region, deployed to intercept it.

Argyll’s Lynx helicopter confirmed the vessel was acting in a way typical of being operated by drug smugglers, and her sea boats were sent across to capture the crew and contraband. Once on board, members of a US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment and Royal Navy sailors discovered nearly 600 kilos of cocaine wrapped in bin bags.

Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois said: “The Royal Navy has a hard-earned record of tackling illegal drug smuggling and we should be extremely proud that HMS Argyll has been involved in a dramatic and very successful operation to disrupt the supply. The operation showed tenacity and professionalism.”

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Source: maritime-executive.com