A ROYAL Navy warship has seized nearly £17 million value of cocaine and different medication in two main busts within the Caribbean.
Dramatic photos present British sailors, Royal Marines and a US Coast Guard staff on HMS Trent intercepting smugglers on a speedboat instantly after a port go to to the island of Martinique.
Throughout two operations, HMS Trent seized a whopping 200kg of cocaine and other drugs with an estimated road worth of £16.7 million.
The warship launched quick sea boats to intercept the speedboat, seize the medication and detain the crew earlier than darkness fell.
Lower than 48 hours later, HMS Trent labored with a US Coast Guard patrol plane to trace and intercept one other speedboat.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps mentioned the operations present the Navy’s dedication to “disrupt and dismantle” drug traffickers.
He mentioned: “These interceptions display the Royal Navy‘s dedication to disrupt and dismantle the operations of drug traffickers the world over.
“I congratulate the ship’s firm for his or her invaluable efforts to maintain unlawful medication off our streets.”
Commanding Officer Tim Langford added: “The pliability proven by my ship’s firm to maneuver straight from high-level defence engagement exercise in Martinique straight into profitable boarding operations is a testomony to their dedication and professionalism.
“The extent of co-operation between the Royal Navy, US Coast Guard and different companions has been glorious, and has been key to creating these seizures attainable.”
HMS Trent has seized drugs worth £307 million because it started working within the Caribbean on the finish of 2023.
In February, £221 million value of cocaine and different medication was seized, along with £70 million in January.
The 2 separate raids noticed sailors and Marines on HMS Trent – assisted by the US Coast Guard – chase down a speedboat as its crew tried to dump almost three tons of Class A into the Caribbean Sea.
4 have been arrested and it took ten hours to search out and accumulate all of the drugs — value £220.56 million.
The Navy referred to as {that a} “high-octane chase beneath moonlight because the smugglers tried to dump their unlawful cargo”.
It continued: “Because the solar rose, Trent’s 60-strong crew scoured the ocean for the deserted cargo, finally retrieving 29 bales of cocaine weighing in at 876kg after an in depth ten-hour search throughout 24 sq. miles.”
Of the February bust, a marine mentioned: “This was a difficult operation and required us to push the boats to their restrict.
“Regardless of their greatest efforts to evade us, and with our boats and the ship bearing down on them at pace, the 38ft go-fast lastly gave up the chase and we have been capable of get alongside and allow members of the US Coast Guard to grab the vessel.”
The officer in command of the US Coast Guard staff added: “It is without doubt one of the largest single seizures in latest reminiscence.
“Having the ability to recuperate such a big cargo of contraband over a 24-mile search space is unprecedented and speaks to the extent of talent the crew of HMS Trent has demonstrated.”
HMS Trent
HMS Trent is a River-class offshore patrol vessel of the British Royal Navy.
It was constructed by BAE Methods at their shipyard in Govan, Glasgow, and was commissioned into service in August 2020.
The ship is designed for a wide range of roles, together with maritime safety, counter-piracy, and anti-smuggling operations.
It has a size of roughly 295 toes and a displacement of round 2,000 tons.
HMS Trent is supplied with a spread of sensors and weapons programs, making it a flexible asset for naval operations.
A ROYAL Navy warship has seized nearly £17 million value of cocaine and different medication in two main busts within the Caribbean.
Dramatic photos present British sailors, Royal Marines and a US Coast Guard staff on HMS Trent intercepting smugglers on a speedboat instantly after a port go to to the island of Martinique.
Throughout two operations, HMS Trent seized a whopping 200kg of cocaine and other drugs with an estimated road worth of £16.7 million.
The warship launched quick sea boats to intercept the speedboat, seize the medication and detain the crew earlier than darkness fell.
Lower than 48 hours later, HMS Trent labored with a US Coast Guard patrol plane to trace and intercept one other speedboat.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps mentioned the operations present the Navy’s dedication to “disrupt and dismantle” drug traffickers.
He mentioned: “These interceptions display the Royal Navy‘s dedication to disrupt and dismantle the operations of drug traffickers the world over.
“I congratulate the ship’s firm for his or her invaluable efforts to maintain unlawful medication off our streets.”
Commanding Officer Tim Langford added: “The pliability proven by my ship’s firm to maneuver straight from high-level defence engagement exercise in Martinique straight into profitable boarding operations is a testomony to their dedication and professionalism.
“The extent of co-operation between the Royal Navy, US Coast Guard and different companions has been glorious, and has been key to creating these seizures attainable.”
HMS Trent has seized drugs worth £307 million because it started working within the Caribbean on the finish of 2023.
In February, £221 million value of cocaine and different medication was seized, along with £70 million in January.
The 2 separate raids noticed sailors and Marines on HMS Trent – assisted by the US Coast Guard – chase down a speedboat as its crew tried to dump almost three tons of Class A into the Caribbean Sea.
4 have been arrested and it took ten hours to search out and accumulate all of the drugs — value £220.56 million.
The Navy referred to as {that a} “high-octane chase beneath moonlight because the smugglers tried to dump their unlawful cargo”.
It continued: “Because the solar rose, Trent’s 60-strong crew scoured the ocean for the deserted cargo, finally retrieving 29 bales of cocaine weighing in at 876kg after an in depth ten-hour search throughout 24 sq. miles.”
Of the February bust, a marine mentioned: “This was a difficult operation and required us to push the boats to their restrict.
“Regardless of their greatest efforts to evade us, and with our boats and the ship bearing down on them at pace, the 38ft go-fast lastly gave up the chase and we have been capable of get alongside and allow members of the US Coast Guard to grab the vessel.”
The officer in command of the US Coast Guard staff added: “It is without doubt one of the largest single seizures in latest reminiscence.
“Having the ability to recuperate such a big cargo of contraband over a 24-mile search space is unprecedented and speaks to the extent of talent the crew of HMS Trent has demonstrated.”
HMS Trent
HMS Trent is a River-class offshore patrol vessel of the British Royal Navy.
It was constructed by BAE Methods at their shipyard in Govan, Glasgow, and was commissioned into service in August 2020.
The ship is designed for a wide range of roles, together with maritime safety, counter-piracy, and anti-smuggling operations.
It has a size of roughly 295 toes and a displacement of round 2,000 tons.
HMS Trent is supplied with a spread of sensors and weapons programs, making it a flexible asset for naval operations.