Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Trent has seized EUR 213 million of cocaine from a “narco-sub” in the Caribbean Sea. It was the first narco-submarine the Royal Navy has ever intercepted.
In eight drugs busts in seven months, the Portsmouth-based patrol ship has stopped nearly EUR 888 million of narcotics reaching the streets. Trent’s latest operation was alongside the US Coast Guard and a US Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
The ship’s boarding team – comprising US Coast Guard personnel, Royal Marines and specialist sailors – clambered aboard the semi-submersed vessel in waters 190 nautical miles south of the Dominican Republic. The team seized 2000 kg of cocaine with a street value of EUR 213 million.
Narco-subs
A narco-submarine, also known as a narco-sub, is a custom-built vessel designed for drug smuggling. These (semi-)submersible craft are made to evade detection by radar, sonar, and infrared systems. Modern versions are almost fully submersible, further reducing the chance of being spotted.
While cargo capacity varies, many of the unmanned vessels can carry several tonnes, with one record haul of 7.7 tonnes seized in 2015. Some advanced narco-subs are even capable of transatlantic journeys.
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Eighth drugs bust
HMS Trent’s Commanding Officer, Commander Tim Langford, says: ‘It has been a busy, yet rewarding eight months for Trent whilst deployed to the Caribbean, and this latest seizure reinforces the utility of Royal Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessels in the delivery of this vital tasking. My skilled team and our embarked USCG Law Enforcement Detachment fought challenging conditions to interdict this semi-submersible – rarely seen in the Caribbean – and were rewarded with another record haul.’
This eighth drugs bust took place on August 26, just 72 hours after Trent’s last successful interdiction in which 462 kg of cocaine worth EUR 44 million was seized. About 90 nautical miles north of where they stopped the narco-sub, a high-speed night-time pursuit by Trent’s sea boats saw two suspects and twelve bales of drugs seized, ready to be handed over to US authorities.
Having seized 9459 kg of drugs – worth about EUR 888 million – Trent surpasses HMS Argyll as the best hunter of smugglers in the Royal Navy this century, smashing the frigate’s EUR 734 million running total (including busts in the Caribbean during patrols in 2014).
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Patrols and repairs
HMS Trent continues to patrol the Caribbean as a reassuring presence to British Overseas Territories during hurricane season (from June to November) and to stem the flow of illegal cargo through the region.
As well as carrying equipment to make repairs to damaged infrastructure and life-saving medical supplies, the ship has a drone system, called the Puma, which provides vital reconnaissance and surveillance and is operated by 700X Naval Air Squadron.
The ship recently visited the British Virgin Islands, making repairs on Tortola after Tropical Storm Ernesto had passed through the region.
Pictures by the Royal Navy.
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