LONDON: A British warship has struck again after seizing a third haul of cocaine in the Caribbean in as many months with a street value of £36 million.
The HMS Argyll has now seized 1,600kg of the drug with a combined wholesale value of over £68 million.
The Plymouth-based Type 23 frigate’s latest coup came after a midnight high speed chase at maximum speed.
After receiving the tip off from a US customs aircraft, the HMS Argyll quickly closed a 70-mile gap to intercept the suspect vessel.
The smugglers began to throw their illegal cargo overboard but were surrounded by small patrol boats guided from the warship with high tech radar technology.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “HMS Argyll has had phenomenal success in disrupting the drugs trade which continues to blight the UK.
“Her crew are doing outstanding and demanding work, and the British people will rightly be proud of, and grateful for, their professionalism and commitment.
“Thanks to them, drugs destined for our streets never reach our shores.”
In recent weeks HMS Argyll has provided assistance to Bermuda in the wake of Hurricane Gonzalo, conducted two further counter-narcotics seizures and hosted the Prince of Wales in Colombia.
It is currently taking part in Operation Martillo, a 15-nation effort to deny international crime gangs access to Central America by air and sea.
The aim is to put a stop to the illegal movement of drugs from South America to the rest of the world.
HMS Argyll conducts drug-busting patrols together with the UK’s National Crime Agency, the US Coast Guard and other partner nations.
Lieutenant Matthew Turner, who was in charge of the bridge during the latest chase, said: “It was an intense couple of hours as we were trying to out-think and out-manoeuvre a small boat which can change direction in an instant.
“I think our training, during which we push the ship and ourselves to the limit, really helped us to make this operation such a success.”
HMS Argyll’s Commanding Officer, Commander Paul Hammond, added: “This night time drugs seizure had no helicopter support and was our most challenging, and satisfying yet.
“The Royal Navy has helped remove a large quantity of drugs from circulation, and that, along with our disaster relief and engagement work has helped demonstrate the value for money a modern day warship provides.”
