Royal Navy recovers cocaine worth $42m

A Royal Navy destroyer patrolling in the Caribbean has scored a major success against drug traffickers in the area after it forced smugglers to jettison a tonne of cocaine worth some $42 million.

HMS Manchester, on patrol in the central Caribbean, homed in on a high-speed drug running vessel on Saturday, forcing the smugglers to jettison their illicit cargo of 100% pure cocaine and make a desperate sprint back to Colombian territorial waters.

The incident started on Saturday after HMS Manchester received information that a ‘go-fast’ was making a drug run. At maximum speed, over 30 knots, the ship closed in and launched her Lynx helicopter. Within minutes of being airborne the flight crew located the ‘go-fast’ stopped in the water attempting to avoid detection by blending into the surroundings.

As the ‘go-fast’ crew saw the British destroyer looming out of the rain clouds, they increased speed and threw the bales of cocaine overboard. The ship then recovered a total of 42 bales, each weighing 25 kg, worth approximately US$42 million at street value.

The Lynx helicopter was able to guide both HMS Manchester and her sea boat on to the position of the cocaine bales. The recovery of the drugs took over two hours in heavy rain and difficult sea conditions.

The destroyer then continued to work with other international authorities in tracking the ‘go-fast’ towards Colombian shores, where the boat was subsequently found abandoned on the northern coast. It has been reported that a four-ton truck and another tonne of cocaine were also found abandoned at the scene.

The Commanding Officer, Commander Richard Ingram, said: "This result is a credit to my ship’s company and a testament to the teamwork that exists between all departments on board.

"We have successfully intercepted a considerable amount of pure cocaine and we will continue the very real fight against the drug trade in the Caribbean. This sends a clear message to the traffickers that the Royal Navy is determined to prevent their evil trade and show that we are here as a force for good."

(gmcg)