£33million drug haul seized by HMS Iron Duke
22 Jul 09
In her first week of patrolling the North Atlantic Ocean, HMS Iron Duke has seized three-quarters of a tonne of cocaine which was destined for the streets of Britain and other European countries.
The drug trafficking 'go fast' vessel in front of HMS Iron Duke immediately prior to being boarded
[Picture: LA (Phot) Stuart Hill, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
The crew of the Portsmouth-based Type 23 Frigate seized the drugs, worth around £33 million, from traffickers on a 'go fast' vessel in a night-time operation off the coast of South America during the Ship's first routine counter-drugs patrol during her current deployment.
At street level the cocaine is heavily adulterated, substantially raising the criminal profits, therefore this seizure represents a serious financial loss to the drug barons and dealers throughout the chain.
Working alongside US colleagues and with a US Coast Guard team embarked, the Royal Navy ship is well placed to disrupt the flow of cocaine out of the region.
See Related Links >>> for video footage of HMS Iron Duke's drugs bust from the Royal Navy website.
The captured 'go fast' vessel, which posed a hazard to shipping, is destroyed by HMS Iron Duke's upper deck guns
[Picture: LA (Phot) Stuart Hill, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
With the suspect vessel fitting the profile of a 'go-fast', the term used for the specially-built speed boats that traffick cocaine out of South America, HMS Iron Duke closed to investigate and launched her Lynx helicopter.
When the crew of the 'go-fast' started to throw overboard bulky objects, later identified as cocaine bales, suspicions were confirmed.
HMS Iron Duke launched her seaboats with a joint Royal Navy and US Coast Guard team who ordered the suspicious vessel to stop; United States Coast Guard personnel then conducted an armed boarding.
The 'go-fast's crew were detained, the drugs seized, and the traffickers' boat itself was later destroyed by HMS Iron Duke as it presented a hazard to shipping.
Members of HMS Iron Duke's Ship's Company bring the seized drugs on board
[Picture: LA (Phot) Stuart Hill, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
Iron Duke's Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander Alasdair Peppe said:
"This is a good start to HMS Iron Duke's North Atlantic deployment. After only a week on patrol the ship has made a significant seizure of cocaine. I am very proud of the whole of Iron Duke's ship's company, all of whom have played a part in this success."
The frigate made a similar drugs bust last year whilst on operations in the region with Prince William embarked, seizing drugs with an estimated UK street value of £45 million.
On patrol in the Caribbean, HMS Iron Duke's primary task is to reassure and assist the UK Overseas Territories during the hurricane season, as well as conducting counter drugs operations as part of a multi-national task force.