HMS Medway sinks boat after $28M cocaine bust
(CNS): Crew members of the Royal Navy Caribbean-based patrol ship, HMS Medway, accompanied by US Coast Guard officers, boarded a drug boat near the Dominican Republic and seized over 400kg (around 882lbs) of cocaine with a street value of more than £24M ($US28M) on its first day of enforcement operations, the UK Ministry Of Defence has reported.
HMS Medway, which visited the Cayman Islands earlier this season, gave chase to the vessel after it was spotted by its operation partners, the USCG Law Enforcement Detachment, with help from a patrol aircraft.
“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 in a Royal Navy press release. “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.”
The boarding team found several large packages, which were quickly confirmed as cocaine and brought aboard the warship. Officials said they believed the drug boat had come from South America and was taking a common smuggler route for this time of year.
Three crew members who were on board the vessel were detained and an overnight operation took place to secure the drugs. The Medway’s gunnery team then fired on the vessel and sank it, leaving the wreck on the ocean bed.
“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 from the USCG. “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.”
Governor Martyn Roper, who met the Royal Navy crew when they were here in September, said it was “fantastic” to see them stopping illicit drugs from reaching the hands of dealers and users.
“We all know the devastating effect such substances can have on the lives of individuals and their families,” the governor said. “This achievement not only serves as a victory in the UK’s commitment to keep illicit drugs off of the streets, but it also serves to test HMS Medway’s versatility.”
He added that it was reassuring to know the UK has assets within the region, positioned to support Cayman and other British Overseas Territories if needed during hurricane season.
Cdr Hollingworth said that, aside from helping the Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos in the wake of hurricanes Ian and Fiona, the versatility of the ship’s crew allows them to switch “from Disaster Relief Operations to Counter Illicit Trafficking Operations without missing a beat”.
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Category: Caribbean, Crime, World News
Why are our Government allowing “fishing boats” to openly operate out of residential lands? We have porta pottys, washing lines, domino tables and piles of junk lying around and not a thing is done. This country is going to shit.
These boats should only be allowed to operate from commercial properties and should probably be searched whenever returning from the “fishing” grounds.
absolutely. The shenanigans that are going on at some of those places are criminal. not to mention they’re definitely not just bringing fish in.
They should be searched before they leave loaded with stolen property as well!
There will always be users, sadly, and therefore suppliers. Big wow when they grab 400 keys, 1000 more keys get thru in the same period.
Glad none of that batch came here or anywhere, anyway.
6:58 Are you standing on the edge of a cliff? Sure sounds like it
6:58 is telling the truth, what is caught is a low fraction of what gets through unfortunately.
Now Governor Roper just needs to see the RCIPS locally carries out vehicular accident protocols and implementation of a D.U.I road-side testing policy with the same effectiveness as the Navy does its own assigned responsibilities.
Ha ha… You’re funny….. But dream on.
Yeah! And arm officers with shoulder-fired RPGs. As soon as the driver blows over the limit, cuff him, shove him in the squad car, and hit the offender’s vehicle with a rocket. Will serve a triple purpose, get drink drivers off the road, relieve some of the traffic problem, and help with global warming. Win, win, win.
Great job! God bless the brave law enforcement officers and first responders!!!
Cocaine users around the world should come to realize they’re supporting domestic crime, theft, murder, and many other destructive behaviors.
Cocaine users don’t care who or what they are supporting as long as their supply is sufficient!
If it was legal then there would be none of this.
@7:46:
Of course!
You have the answer!
And your solution applies to not only the drug problem, but to all the issues we have surrounding crime: crowded court schedules, over-crowded prisons, stressful police work load, not to mention the dollar cost of enforcement, investigation, prosecution and jail.
Just make all crimes legal!
Damn! Woww! Freaking BRILLIANT! How did we not think of this before?
actually Portugal did think of it and the drug use went down as well as rehabilitation programs were actually utilized.
Don’t pollute the Caribbean Sea with a cocaine smeared trafficking boat. That’s environmentally improper.
That was a big bust.
And the right one intercepted the smugglers. That kind of weight would destroy this island. The cartels at sea could make it a really bad day for the smaller forces, if they are not adequate to fight and defend.
Likewise, Cayman dose not have that issue with cocaine flooding our streets. But do be aware that cartels are so rich, they own planes and submarines. They will most likely anchor at night knowing Cayman is asleep. Likewise, there is more of a thirst for marijuana than ever in Cayman.
If it is anything that upsets the bees on this island, it is to remove their biggest money maker. Take away marijuana, and the troops will emerge from the bottomless pit to make wreckage this place. Follow the money.
The fish gotta have a bit of fun, too!
Great. Why don’t they hang around Cayman and intercept a few inbound canoes?
2.55pm And sink them with the smugglers onboard.
they are only out ‘fishing’…
Good job guys and ladies, keep it up.
Justification for spending money on that boat. Who cares if people spend money and poison themselves.
I wonder it was headed for North Side???
Headed to Northside why would you say that @12:59? . Spill the beans will ya!
Not v environmentally friendly, to set fire to a boat and then sink it
Why not keep the boat, and sell it?
Seems most odd …
Blowing up the drug boat and associated sea/air pollution is ridiculous.
I think it’s dumb, too.
Environmentally friendly.
will only make cost of living situation worse.
why sink the boat?…surely that is a crucial part of evidence?
Great stuff. Keep it up!
God save the King.