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01/05/2015
Cocaine Seized From Tug Boat 'UK Record'
Cocaine discovered on a tug boat in the North Sea is believed to be single biggest class A drug seizure on record in the UK, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has announced.
A joint operation between the NCA, Border Force and Royal Navy – working on intelligence received by the NCA – led to the vessel, the MV Hamal, being intercepted on Thursday 23 April around 100 miles off the coast of Aberdeen.
The vessel was taken to Aberdeen harbour where a search began led by Border Force officers with specialist deep rummage skills, with operational support from Police Scotland.
The NCA report that the cocaine had "an estimated total weight in excess of three tonnes which, if cut and sold in the UK, could have had a likely potential street value of more than £500 million, depending on purity".
John McGowan, senior investigating officer for the NCA, based at the Scottish Crime Campus, Gartcosh, said: "The search of this vessel has been lengthy and painstaking, undertaken by hugely skilled specialists working in difficult conditions.
"The result is this massive discovery – believed to be the biggest single class A drug seizure on record in the UK, and likely to be worth several hundred million pounds."
The nine-man crew of the Hamal, all Turkish nationals aged between 26 and 63, have been charged with drug trafficking offences. They appeared before Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Monday 27 April where they were remanded in custody until their next appearance on Tuesday 5 May.
(MH)
A joint operation between the NCA, Border Force and Royal Navy – working on intelligence received by the NCA – led to the vessel, the MV Hamal, being intercepted on Thursday 23 April around 100 miles off the coast of Aberdeen.
The vessel was taken to Aberdeen harbour where a search began led by Border Force officers with specialist deep rummage skills, with operational support from Police Scotland.
The NCA report that the cocaine had "an estimated total weight in excess of three tonnes which, if cut and sold in the UK, could have had a likely potential street value of more than £500 million, depending on purity".
John McGowan, senior investigating officer for the NCA, based at the Scottish Crime Campus, Gartcosh, said: "The search of this vessel has been lengthy and painstaking, undertaken by hugely skilled specialists working in difficult conditions.
"The result is this massive discovery – believed to be the biggest single class A drug seizure on record in the UK, and likely to be worth several hundred million pounds."
The nine-man crew of the Hamal, all Turkish nationals aged between 26 and 63, have been charged with drug trafficking offences. They appeared before Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Monday 27 April where they were remanded in custody until their next appearance on Tuesday 5 May.
(MH)
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