In a dramatic nighttime operation, Metropolitan Police officers, supported by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Border Force, intercepted a small boat carrying 350kg of cocaine off the Sussex coast. The seizure took place in Eastbourne harbour and is estimated to have a black market value of £35 million.
The vessel involved was a Kingfisher Sports Explorer, stopped just after 10.15pm on Saturday, 18 February, following intelligence reports of suspicious activity in the Channel. Scotland Yard detectives and Border Force agents swiftly moved to seize the drugs and arrest three men on board.
All three suspects, including a port worker, have been charged and remanded on suspicion of conspiring to import Class A drugs. Detective Inspector Lydia Stephens from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command stated: “We are committed to addressing the impact of Class A drugs on our communities. This massive shipment was headed for London’s streets via ‘city lines’ gangs, 80% of whom have violent histories linked to murder. Tackling these gangs helps protect exploited children and cut serious violence in the capital.”
Martin French, senior intelligence manager at the NCA, praised the joint effort: “The NCA brought specialist skills to secure this seizure. Removing this cocaine from circulation stops it feeding the misery and chaos caused by the Class A drug trade.” The NCA reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside the Metropolitan Police and Border Force to combat organised crime and keep the UK’s streets safer.
Originally published by UKNIP.
