Royal Navy warship seizes cocaine in dramatic Caribbean drugs bust

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Royal Navy warship seizes cocaine worth £100m in dramatic Caribbean drugs bust

14 Aug 2013 19:08
By Piers Eady

British sailors sprung into action after US coastguards spotted a speedboat covered with a tarpaulin near Puerto Rico

HMS Lancaster blasts drugs boat out of the water. PA

British sailors seized a stash of cocaine worth £100m in a dramatic high-speed drugs bust in the Caribbean.

The crew of HMS Lancaster sprung into action after US coastguards spotted a speedboat covered with a tarpaulin near Puerto Rico.

The Type 23 frigate launched a Lynx helicopter and a high-speed pursuit boat to track down the vessel.

Three suspected drug smugglers on board tried to ditch their cargo, but divers quickly recovered their haul.

Sailors then seized 22 bales of pure cocaine weighing 680kg and worth an amazing £100m.

They then blasted the drugs boat out of the water to stop it being used by drugs gangs in the future.

The Royal Navy then handed over the Class A drug - and the three suspects - to US customs and officials in Puerto Rico.

 

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Royal Navy gunner onboard HMS Lancaster using a machine gun to destroy the vessel once the suspects and haul had been recovered
after a high speed pursuit boat intercepting the 30ft drug carrying vessel in the Caribbean


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