Almost half-a-tonne of cocaine with a street value approaching £35m has been seized from a fishing boat believed to have been involved in a 'sea-drop' smuggling operation. Five men were arrested after the fishing boat called the New Horizon was boarded in Sovereign Harbour, in Eastbourne, East Sussex.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) said it recovered 425kg (937lb) of the Class A drug valued at over £34m. It is alleged four of the sailors picked up the drugs after the stash was dropped in the English Channel by another vessel, before they returned to shore with the illicit bounty. The fifth man was arrested as the others returned to harbour.
Just 24 hours after the discovery, the gang of five appeared at Brighton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, charged with conspiring to fraudulently evade a prohibition on the importation of a Class A drug. The defendants are Alan John Colquhoun, 49, from Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland; William Donohoe, 38, from Airdrie, Scotland; Ian Smith, 49, from Eastbourne; Jacob Cronin, 31, also from Eastbourne; and Daniel Ruffell, 35, from Slough.
They were remanded to appear at Lewes Crown Court on July 8. The operation was supported by the NCA's Maritime, Aviation and Military Intervention Cell; the Joint Maritime Security Centre; Sussex Police and Police Scotland. Searches have also been carried out in Scotland.
NCA investigator Carl Barrass said: 'The recovery of this quantity of cocaine represents a significant loss to the organised crime group behind its importation and will impact its ability to continue operating. Combating the threat of Class A drugs is a priority for the NCA and we will continue to work with partners at home and abroad to protect the public.'
