The British Navy has announced that its coastguard patrol vessel, HMS Trent, played a crucial role in seizing over £40 million worth of cocaine from drug traffickers in the Caribbean, as reported by Sky News.
HMS Trent intercepted a speedboat suspected of smuggling 506kg of Class A drugs while patrolling 222 kilometers south of the Dominican Republic.
As reported by Ukrinform and Sky News, the operation was a joint effort that also involved the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy aviation.
The three suspected smugglers, along with the seized cocaine, were handed over to U.S. authorities for further investigation.
This latest success brings HMS Trent’s total drug seizures this year to 6,995kg, with an estimated street value of £551 million.
The patrol vessel is set to remain in the Caribbean throughout the hurricane season, which lasts until November, as part of ongoing efforts to curb the flow of illegal cargo in the region.
In a related incident, Bulgarian customs officers recently discovered nearly half a ton of heroin at the port of Burgas, further highlighting the global battle against drug trafficking.
