UK authorities arrest six after £160mn worth two tonnes cocaine seized off Plymouth coast
The UK authorities arrested six men including a Briton off the coast of Plymouth after more than two tonnes (2,000kg) of cocaine seizure.
The British man, from Stockton-on-Tees, and five Nicaraguans were arrested on a luxury yacht on Thursday.
The men, aged from 24 to 49, were held on suspicion of drug trafficking and remain in custody, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.
Officers estimate the street value of the drugs is about £160m.
The group were sailing in the Jamaican-flagged Kahu when they were intercepted 80 miles off the coast, in international waters north of Guernsey.
The yacht, whichhad sailed from the Caribbean, was intercepted and boarded by specialist Border Force and NCA officers.
The arrests were made as part of an operation led by the NCA and supported by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Border Force.
Border Force's cutter Searcher and coastal patrol vessel Alert had covertly identified and monitored the yacht's movements, the NCA said.
Deputy director Matt Horne said: "There's no doubt these drugs would have been sold on into communities across the UK in such ways as county lines fuelling more crime and misery.
"Organised crime groups (OCG) are motivated by money. The deprivation of these drugs will smash a hole in the OCG's plans and ability to operate."
Mr Horne explained that the arrests of the men transporting the drugs means the crime group will have lost trusted offenders who would have been key to their operation.
"We continue to work with partners at home such as Border Force and those abroad such as the AFP to protect the public from the Class A drugs threat," he added.
SOURCE: BBC NEWS
Zillow’s short-sighted move to overlook climate risk
- 11 hours ago
Young Leaders Conference 2025 highlights social stewardship on day two
- 6 hours ago
Bollywood studio Bhansali Productions to sell future film music to Saregama India
- 9 hours ago
Pakistan qualify for semi-final of under 19 Asia Cup cricket
- 6 hours ago
Why Republicans in Congress are turning against Trump
- 20 hours ago
Former Punjab CM Manzoor Wattoo passes away at 86
- 9 hours ago
Gold prices dip per tola in Pakistan, global markets
- 9 hours ago
Bondi gunman’s Indian family had no knowledge of his radicalisation, Indian police say
- 9 hours ago
Sabalenka named WTA Player of the Year for second straight season
- 9 hours ago
Assailants kill cop, brother in gun attack in KP’s Lakki Marwat
- 6 hours ago
Tagic Army Public School (APS) Peshawar incident completes 11 painful years
- 4 hours ago
AI boom seen lifting chipmaking equipment sales 9pc to $126bn in 2026
- 6 hours ago
