HMS Iron Duke scuppers drug-running suspects

The commando marksmen on board the Lynx aircraft fired warning shots after the 40 mph (64 k/ph) 'Go Fast' vessel ignored radio and visual warnings to halt. When it continued to flee, the Royal Marines employed 'Non-Lethal Disabling Fire', aiming five rounds at the vessel's engine block and successfully stopping the boat.

Iron Duke had been on maritime security patrol 110 miles (177km) north of the Venezuela-Colombia coast on the afternoon of Friday, 18 July 2008, when she became aware that the Go Fast was loitering in the area. At the time, the ship's Lynx was preparing to get airborne on a training flight and was diverted to investigate.

Despite the Go Fast's crew attempting to avoid detection by spreading a tarpaulin to camouflage the 30ft (9m) vessel, the Lynx located it after a 15-minute search. The boat was fired on as a last resort, the Royal Marines using high-power, long-range, British-made L121A1 0.50inch (12.7mm) calibre rifles to disable it.

When Iron Duke arrived on the scene, the three crew members were taken on board and the Go Fast sunk on the authority of the US Coast Guard team on board the frigate. They found traces of cocaine on two of the three men. The men were identified as Colombians and later transferred to the Colombian authorities.

The incident spanned around 48 hours and was the second anti-drugs success for the Portsmouth-based warship. Last month she seized 0.9 tonnes of cocaine from another Go Fast vessel.

During these early stages of her Caribbean deployment, in between sustained periods of counter-drugs patrols, she has also stopped a vessel smuggling fuel, assisted a fishing vessel in danger of sinking and has tracked four tropical storms or hurricanes as well as conducting training with local authorities in disaster relief on the island of Montserrat.

The Commanding Officer of HMS Iron Duke, Commander Mark Newland, said:

"This first 30-day patrol of our Caribbean deployment has been an enormous success. My ship's company are elated at again disrupting the activities of suspected drug-runners.

"The skill and professionalism of my helicopter crew, and in particular the young Royal Marines who fired the rounds to stop the Go Fast is an indication of the talents that lie within the Naval Service."

His Royal Highness Prince William is serving aboard HMS Iron Duke as part of his current tour with the Royal Navy.