Royal Navy seize another huge cocaine haul

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British naval forces have taken part in their fourth major drugs bust on the high seas in just two months during a precision-planned operation in the Atlantic Ocean.

Captured: MV Orca II in the Atlantic with Royal Navy frigate HMS Argyll in the background
[Picture: Royal Navy]

The operation, which completed yesterday, 6 November 2006, was a combined venture with the UK's Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and Spanish Customs.

Royal Navy frigate HMS Argyll, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary supply ship RFA Fort Austin, Sea King helicopters of 849 Naval Air Squadron and Royal Marines from 40 Commando all assisted in the seizing of narcotics with an estimated street value of some £58.8 million.

The British and Spanish authorities worked together to intercept the 862-tonne offshore supply vessel MV Orca II 360miles (580 km) off the Cape Verde Islands. The vessel was suspected of carrying drugs for onward transmission to Europe and the UK from South America, and Spanish Customs agents found approximately 1.3 tonnes of cocaine on the ship.

The operation was swift, and left no opportunity for the traffickers to evade law enforcement agencies. The MV Orca II is now being taken into a Spanish port by Spanish Customs officers.

The latest find comes after the first success of HMS Argyll - again working with Spanish Customs and SOCA, and with the tanker RFA Gold Rover - when 1.8 tonnes of cocaine was found on MV Ster II off West Africa in early October.

Separate operations in the West Indies saw the Royal Fleet Auxiliary supply ship Wave Ruler carry out two major drug busts in September and October, seizing a total of about eight tonnes of cocaine.

HMS Argyll's commanding officer, Commander Will Warrender, said:

"The Royal Navy is working closely with other agencies such as SOCA in the fight against drugs, I am delighted yet again that we have been able to play our part in the battle to keep drugs off our streets."

Defence Secretary, Des Browne added:

"This is great news – our fleet has dealt a considerable blow to those who seek to sell drugs on the streets of Britain, not just once, but four times in the past two months."

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