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Six people, including a Briton, have been arrested off Plymouth after authorities seized 1,500 kg of cocaine – worth around £ 120million.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) said the Briton – from Stockton on Tees, County Durham – and five Nicaraguans were arrested aboard a Jamaican-flagged yacht 80 miles (129 km) offshore.
The men, aged 24 to 49, were arrested for drug trafficking and remain in detention, the NCA said in a statement.
The men were stopped 80 miles offshore. Photo: Australian Federal Police / NCA
The arrests are the result of a joint operation between the NCA, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Border Force.
NCA Deputy Director Matt Horne said: “There is no doubt that these drugs would have been sold in communities across the UK in the same way as County Lines fueling more crime and misery.
“Organized crime groups (OCGs) are motivated by money. Deprivation of these drugs will break a hole in OCG’s plans and its ability to function.
Additionally, the arrests of the men carrying the drugs mean that the criminal group has lost trusted offenders who would have been key to its operation.
It was a joint operation between British and Australian forces. Photo: Australian Federal Police / NCA
“We continue to work with domestic partners such as Border Force and those overseas such as AFP to protect the public against the threat of Class A drugs.”
Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Lesa Gale said: “This result should serve as the strongest warning to criminals to date – we will continue to be relentless in our pursuit to target and disrupt your illicit operations and bring you in justice.”
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