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| Caribbean-Latin America | |
| Navy seizes cocaine 'worth £240m' | |
| 2009-09-29 | |
The Portsmouth-based frigate HMS Iron Duke seized more than five-and-a-half tonnes of the drug from a 138ft fishing boat off the coast of Colombia. The Royal Navy and US Coast Guard jointly intercepted the boat after it was spotted by a navy helicopter crew. Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell praised the operation for "damaging the trade in this vile substance". He said cocaine "only serves to poison our communities". Whitehall officials have said the bust took place in international waters off the north coast of Colombia, according to BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner. The 212 bales of cocaine, weighing about 26kg each, were seized in an area known for trafficking. Cdr Andrew Stacey said the ship's crew was "delighted". He said: "This was our third successful drug bust in as many months but this surpasses anything we've had and anything the navy had previously. "It is the largest drugs bust by value, and by volume, in terms of cocaine. It is a massive blow for the narcotics industry." | |
| Posted by:Steve White |