A joint operation involving the National Crime Agency saw 80 bales of cocaine seized from a yacht about to begin a transatlantic crossing
A yacht bound for Europe was found carrying more than two tonnes of cocaine when intercepted in the Caribbean last Wednesday.
A joint operation involving the National Crime Agency (NCA), alongside French and Spanish partners, saw 80 bales of cocaine seized from a yacht 125 miles off Martinique.
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Silandra was boarded by officers from the French Customs as it began a transatlantic crossing to Europe.
The three crew members, two Spanish and one Venezuelan, were arrested and are now in custody in Martinique.
Credit: National Crime Agency
This latest drugs bust is believed to be one of the biggest ever made by French authorities.
Had the drugs been cut and sold in the UK, the haul would have a potential street value of more than £300m.
NCA head of international operations Steve Reynolds said: “This was a huge seizure and represents a major blow to the organised crime groups involved in shipping class A drugs from South America and the Caribbean to Europe.
Credit: National Crime Agency
“Our network of officers overseas played a crucial role in this operation. It is highly likely that at least some of these drugs would have ended up being sold on the streets of the UK.”
The seizure is the latest involving the NCA to take place in the region.
In November 2014 a UK-bound yacht carrying an estimated 250 kilos of cocaine was seized off Martinique, in another joint operation. Two men from Jersey were later jailed for a total of 17 years.