300 million pounds worth of cocaine found on boat in Southampton

[The Patriot]

300 million pounds worth of cocaine found on boat in Southampton

08-04-2011 04:00 AM

Published:
Thu, 2011-08-04 11:58


300 million pounds worth of cocaine found on boat in Southampton


Heather Joy


300 million pounds worth of cocaine found on boat in Southampton

Cocaine with a street value of 300 million pounds, the largest shipment ever seized in Britain, has been found on a luxury motor cruiser according to a report in the Mirror. The 1.2 ton haul was hidden so well that it took customs officers six days to find the stash that officials believe could be enough to service a third of the UK market for a year.
According to the report smugglers created a chamber beneath a bathing platform at the back of the boat to hold the shrink-wrapped blocks of cocaine. It is believed that they purposefully damaged the boat so that it would have to be brought in for repairs.
The 65ft Dutch-registered Louise was seized when it arrived in Southampton onboard the cargo ship Snoekgracht, claimed the report, after a tip-off from French customs investigators.
Carol Upsall from the UK Border Agency, whose team found the drugs, explained that the smugglers had been extremely sophisticated. According to the Mirror she said, “The drugs were extremely well hidden. My rummage team knows boats inside out but it still took six days to find it. It was a professional, ingenious operation done by organized criminals. The boat has been damaged and reconfigured to throw us off the scent, including the creation of hidden chambers. The damage they caused was done purpose to give them a motive to have the boat sent to Europe for a refit.”
According to Upsall the find should put a substantial dent in the supply of drugs in the UK.








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