The Royal Navy seizes cocaine 'worth £240m'

totalgenius · 28th September 2009, 06:53

Click here for the video of the firefight.

The Royal Navy says it has seized its biggest haul of cocaine, estimating its street value at £240m ($380m).

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 South America.

The Royal Navy and US Coastguard 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".

Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell praised the team.

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."

HMS Iron Duke has a strong record of successful anti-narcotics operations

Anti-narcotics success

Cdr Stacey said the crew, along with an armed helicopter and inflatable boats, had intercepted the boat, MV Cristal, on 15 September and spent 24 hours searching it before the drugs were found hidden beneath the ship's regular stores.

A concrete floor had to be broken up with sledge hammers and metal panels had to be unbolted before the stash was discovered and removed, he said.

The drug smugglers' boat was later sunk by gunfire.

Cdr Stacey said several drug runners of different nationalities had been arrested but no more details could be revealed.

Another British ship, RFA Fort George, was also involved in the joint operation between the Royal Navy and the US Coastguard.

HMS Iron Duke's primary task, while on a six-month deployment, is to reassure and assist the people of the UK Overseas Territories during the hurricane season.

The warship, which was launched in 1991 and cost £140m to build, is also on stand-by to take part in anti-narcotics operations.

The latest seizure is the third major counter-narcotics success for HMS Iron Duke off South America in recent months.

In raids in July and August, the warship was involved in two operations which seized cocaine with an estimated street value totalling £39m.

Prince William served on HMS Iron Duke in July 2008, during which the crew seized more than £40m of cocaine in the Caribbean.

BBC NEWS | UK | Navy seizes cocaine 'worth £240m'

janobi · 28th September 2009, 08:18

There goes my celebrity party this weekend then.....

Firemouth · 28th September 2009, 10:18

thats two each for every cop in the country. well, it means we wont have to burn it! think if the environment.

wilson1980 · 28th September 2009, 10:41

we read this in the paper and i wonder whos gettin shot over losin this amount..someones down at the end off the day..but mad as to how much was caught this time..good bonus for the guys who caught it i think

fireblade2 · 28th September 2009, 12:52

wow thats alot of cocaine

just have a little faith

Firemouth · 28th September 2009, 12:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by fireblade2

wow thats alot of cocaine

just have a little faith

yep, defiantly not to be sniffed at

. sorry guys, it had to be done

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firemouth

thats two each for every cop in the country. well, it means we wont have to burn it! think if the environment.

oops should have read two LINES

madeinbeats · 28th September 2009, 14:41

They should have micky finned it with cyanide and let them on their way, wipe out a few thousand bag heads from the gene pool...

Firemouth · 28th September 2009, 14:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by madeinbeats

They should have micky finned it with cyanide and let them on their way, wipe out a few thousand bag heads from the gene pool...

but who would run our Banks then? still a good idea

wonko · 28th September 2009, 16:37

surely thats piracy - stopping a boat/ship on the open sea and removing it's cargo without the owners consent? probably at gun point and rifle but as well - definateely sounds more like it than downloading an mp3 or 70 anyway.........

another few hundred of them and thats the budget deficit paid..........

janobi · 28th September 2009, 22:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by madeinbeats

They should have micky finned it with cyanide and let them on their way, wipe out a few thousand bag heads from the gene pool...

Wrong drug mate. That would be heroin.

And if they stopped that amount, think how much is actually getting through. Bet that boat was a tip off from the smugglers, to get the bigger shipment through.

28th September 2009, 06:53	#1 (permalink)
totalgenius DW Respected Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Asteroids Champion! Tetris Champion! Snake Champion! Simon Champion! Hexxagon Champion! Mahjong Champion! Arkanoid Champion! Pacman Champion! Broken Words Champion! Penguin 4 Champion! MiniPool Champion! Chopper Champion! Spear Toss 5 Shots Champion! Beat The Meter Champion! Pepsi Max Pinball Champion! Spin Balls Champion! Copter Champion! Penguin Flight Champion! Tournaments Won: 3 Location: Planet - Earth Posts: 1,043 Thanks: 11 Thanked 33 Times in 8 Posts	The Royal Navy seizes cocaine 'worth £240m' Click here for the video of the firefight. The Royal Navy says it has seized its biggest haul of cocaine, estimating its street value at £240m ($380m). 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 South America. The Royal Navy and US Coastguard 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". Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell praised the team. 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." HMS Iron Duke has a strong record of successful anti-narcotics operations Anti-narcotics success Cdr Stacey said the crew, along with an armed helicopter and inflatable boats, had intercepted the boat, MV Cristal, on 15 September and spent 24 hours searching it before the drugs were found hidden beneath the ship's regular stores. A concrete floor had to be broken up with sledge hammers and metal panels had to be unbolted before the stash was discovered and removed, he said. The drug smugglers' boat was later sunk by gunfire. Cdr Stacey said several drug runners of different nationalities had been arrested but no more details could be revealed. Another British ship, RFA Fort George, was also involved in the joint operation between the Royal Navy and the US Coastguard. HMS Iron Duke's primary task, while on a six-month deployment, is to reassure and assist the people of the UK Overseas Territories during the hurricane season. The warship, which was launched in 1991 and cost £140m to build, is also on stand-by to take part in anti-narcotics operations. The latest seizure is the third major counter-narcotics success for HMS Iron Duke off South America in recent months. In raids in July and August, the warship was involved in two operations which seized cocaine with an estimated street value totalling £39m. Prince William served on HMS Iron Duke in July 2008, during which the crew seized more than £40m of cocaine in the Caribbean. BBC NEWS \| UK \| Navy seizes cocaine 'worth £240m' __________________ Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. Albert Einstein A man of genius makes no mistakes; his errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery. James Joyce An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made in a very narrow field. Niels Bohr.

28th September 2009, 08:18	#2 (permalink)
janobi Janet to us Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Getting a spoon, so you can eat my ass! Posts: 4,835 Thanks: 11 Thanked 187 Times in 137 Posts	Re: The Royal Navy seizes cocaine 'worth £240m' There goes my celebrity party this weekend then..... __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Is tough enough to make milkshake........

28th September 2009, 10:18	#3 (permalink)
Firemouth DW Respected Member +++ Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,911 Thanks: 22 Thanked 24 Times in 18 Posts	Re: The Royal Navy seizes cocaine 'worth £240m' thats two each for every cop in the country. well, it means we wont have to burn it! think if the environment. __________________ http://www.speedtest.net/result/627739022.png

28th September 2009, 10:41	#4 (permalink)
wilson1980 DW Respected Member ++ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: dundee Posts: 1,418 Thanks: 77 Thanked 27 Times in 19 Posts	Re: The Royal Navy seizes cocaine 'worth £240m' we read this in the paper and i wonder whos gettin shot over losin this amount..someones down at the end off the day..but mad as to how much was caught this time..good bonus for the guys who caught it i think

28th September 2009, 12:52	#5 (permalink)
fireblade2 DW Respected Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: up in the clodes : ) Posts: 1,173 Thanks: 268 Thanked 123 Times in 95 Posts	Re: The Royal Navy seizes cocaine 'worth £240m' wow thats alot of cocaine just have a little faith

28th September 2009, 14:41	#7 (permalink)
madeinbeats DW Respected Member +++ Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: In a shack on a hill. Somtimes it rains, sometimes it shines. Posts: 1,868 Images: 1 Thanks: 88 Thanked 164 Times in 98 Posts	Re: The Royal Navy seizes cocaine 'worth £240m' They should have micky finned it with cyanide and let them on their way, wipe out a few thousand bag heads from the gene pool... __________________ INSANITY ~ "To believe that you need what you don't already have is insane"

28th September 2009, 16:37	#9 (permalink)
wonko DW Top Poster +++ Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 959 Thanks: 6 Thanked 10 Times in 8 Posts	Re: The Royal Navy seizes cocaine 'worth £240m' surely thats piracy - stopping a boat/ship on the open sea and removing it's cargo without the owners consent? probably at gun point and rifle but as well - definateely sounds more like it than downloading an mp3 or 70 anyway......... another few hundred of them and thats the budget deficit paid..........

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