The Border Force has cautioned that South American drug cartels are dumping cocaine into the waters surrounding the UK for collection by smaller vessels and subsequent delivery to land.
Dozens of millions of pounds' worth of narcotics are being packaged with floating devices that include tracking technology, enabling criminal organizations in the UK to monitor their locations, authorities report.
This advanced technique for transporting substantial amounts of the drug into the UK has emerged as a "major and ongoing menace," according to their statements.
A few days ago, a court was informed about an incident from September where four British men were apprehended for collecting approximately one tonne of cocaine worth around £100 million near the Isles of Scilly. The individuals could be facing long-term imprisonment as a result.
To apprehend the packages, Border Force has dispatched its cutter teams along with specially trained detection dogs.
INSPIRATIONS DIGITALNews received exclusive access to this unit, where they encountered a canine named Flash who detected a stash of cocaine concealed within a shipment of bananas arriving from South America back in January.
The narcotics, sealed within waterproof packages and fitted with tracking devices, were discovered inside a locked compartment aboard the ship. This vessel was intercepted near the coastline of Dover in Kent, and the total worth of these substances exceeded £50 million on the streets.
"They were bound together into approximately 30kg blocks along with life jackets that would subsequently be inflated... these bundles would then be tossed overboard," explained Charlie Eastaugh, the maritime director at Border Force, to INSPIRATIONS DIGITAL.
This strategy, referred to as an ASDO or at-sea drop-off, has resulted in the seizure of several tons of cocaine in recent years, according to him.
'Track, locate, seize'
Drugs are transported on so-called "mother" ships by gangs in South America who are in touch with criminals in the UK using satellite phones. When the vessels are in British waters the packages are thrown overboard to be collected by smaller "daughter" boats, which locate the contraband.
Mr. Eastaugh states that the issue is "substantial," however, "we can recognize, monitor, pinpoint, confiscate, and eventually charge and incarcerate those who are part of it."
Last week, Truro Crown Court heard Last September, four individuals embarked on a voyage aboard a vessel named the Lily Lola. They navigated towards an area close to the Scilly Isles, following directions provided by a criminal group based in South America.
Over there, they recovered an enormous amount of cocaine that had been discarded by a bigger ship out at sea. However, before they could transport it back to land, they were stopped by agents from the NCA.
Jon Williams, aged 46, who was the skipper of the vessel, along with Patrick Godfrey, 31, both hailing from Swansea, were recruited by Michael Kelly, 45, and Jake Marchant, 27, due to their expertise in managing boats, according to what was stated in court.
They will go back to court for sentencing on May 8th.
A variety of notable events have occurred in the past two years, including:
- Parcels of Cocaine was found scattered across the beaches on the Isle of Wight. in October 2023
- Packages containing the drug were discovered at Durdle Door in Dorset , also in 2023, and furthermore Goring, in West Sussex
- A inflatable vessel was stopped near Suffolk in June 2024, after being found with narcotics that were initially taken from a larger ship. Two individuals jumped from the vessel. In an unsuccessful effort to flee,Border Force officers intervened.
Dr. Adam Winstock, a consultant psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist with extensive experience working in prisons, notes that the potency and cost of cocaine have remained unaffected by inflation over the past half-decade.
Consequently, he states that "[smugglers] do not care if they lose 20% of their shipments" due to confiscations by law enforcement, as the profit margin on the drugs is extremely substantial.
Even with record confiscations in 2024, the number of cocaine-related fatalities in the UK has reached a three-decade peak. The data from the Office of National Statistics shows that there were 1,118 such deaths in 2023, which is tenfold compared to what was recorded in 2011.
Derek Evans from the NCA, who headed the investigation into the Lily Lola, cautioned individuals employed in the fishing sector: “Should a member of a criminal organization approach you, inform the police immediately. If you consider engaging in this field within a criminal context, reconsider your decision.”
- How a scheme to smuggle £100 million worth of cocaine onto a Highland shoreline fell apart.
- The DIY submarines being used for smuggling cocaine into Europe
- Cocaine consumption drives surge in drug-related fatalities to an all-time peak.
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