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Dramatic images show the torching of a smugglers’ boat carrying cocaine with a street value of around £24 million following a tense chase with a naval warship in the Caribbean.
More than 400kg of drugs were seized from the vessel, which is believed to have come from South America, and three crew members were detained before it was destroyed.
The Royal Navy’s Caribbean-based patrol ship HMS Medway had spotted the boat near the Dominican Republic. The Off Shore Patrol Vessel was carrying members of the US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment and was supported by an aircraft.
Following an overnight operation to secure the contraband – estimated by the National Crime Agency to be worth around £24 million had it reached Britain’s streets – the vessel was sunk by Medway’s gunnery team.
The ship, which is thought to have travelled along a common smuggling route, was boarded by officers after a pursuit and found to contain several large packages of drugs, the Royal Navy said.
HMS Medway and a US Coastguard team intercepted a South American drugs gang attempting to smuggle cocaine with an estimated street value of £24m through the Caribbean
A US Coast Guard Law Enforcement team on board Medway used a small rigid inflatable boat to intercept the drugs gang before they could destroy the evidence
After the drugs were removed from the vessel, Medway’s gunnery squad opened fire on the boat, destroying it
‘To secure an interdiction on our first day dedicated to this type of operation in this period has been tremendous,’ said Commander Chris Hollingworth, commanding officer of Medway.
‘Everyone involved demonstrated their professionalism during a challenging pursuit.
‘It might be the first, but we’re going to make sure that it won’t be the last, and I speak on behalf of everyone here in saying this has galvanised our determination to succeed.’
The destruction of the vessel, which is normal for this type of operation, ensures it is no longer used for illegal activity while also providing gunnery training.
‘Together with our partners on board Medway and up in the skies above us, we’re able to smash a hole in the supply chain and disrupt the movement of these harmful drugs before they have the chance to harm people at home and abroad,’ Cdr Hollingworth said.
One member of the crew pounded the small drug smuggling boat with his General Purpose Machine Gun
The Royal Navy said it was normal procedure to destroy such vessels to prevent them from being reused by drugs gangs
The boat also gave members of the crew valuable real-world target practice
Commander Chris Hollingworth, HMS Medway’s commanding officer, pictured with the 400kg haul, said the operation was completed on the vessel’s first day on patrol
HMS Medway, pictured with the burning drug boat in the background, is deployed to the Caribbean to intercept drugs
‘I’m exceptionally proud of the collective effort of my ship’s company and our colleagues from the US Coast Guard for their proactive attitude and total commitment to the task.’
A member of the US team on board Medway said: ‘Although we talk of these boats being commonplace in the Caribbean, that doesn’t in any way diminish the achievement of landing a bust like this,’ said a member of the boarding team, US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 404, who wishes to remain anonymous.
‘Together with our partners on board Medway and up in the skies above us, we’re able to smash a hole in the supply chain and disrupt the movement of these harmful drugs before they have the chance to harm people at home and abroad.’
Medway recently helped the people of the Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos in their recovery efforts following Hurricanes Ian and Fiona.
‘It’s a perfect example of Medway’s versatility, and demonstrates my team’s ability to shift from Disaster Relief Operations to Counter Illicit Trafficking Operations without missing a beat,’ added Cdr Hollingworth.
‘I’m exceptionally proud of the collective effort of my ship’s company and our colleagues from the US Coast Guard for their proactive attitude and total commitment to the task.’
The operation involved the Royal Navy and the US Coastguard who had members of the law enforcement team onboard HMS Medway
The fuel onboard the drug boat burned after it was riddled by the heavy-calibre rounds from HMS Medway
Fuel and oil burned on the surface of the ocean after the boat was attacked by HMS Medway. The three gang members and their illicit haul had been removed before the Royal Navy opened fire
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