RNAS Culdrose sailors assist in Carribbean drugs bust

Sailors from RNAS Culdrose's 1700 Naval Air Squadron have played their part in a drugs bust in the Caribbean.

They include a wide range of personnel from weapons engineers to those supporting air operations by the ship's helicopter.

Sailors, Royal Marines and the US Coast Guard team onboard RFA Argus hauled 11 bales of cocaine weighing 358 kilogrammes in the first of three busts in seven days.

Patrol ship HMS Medway and her US Coast Guard team followed that up by catching traffickers in two interceptions inside 24 hours in the Caribbean Sea, which saw 650 kilogrammes of cocaine seized, never to reach the streets.

Together the British and American team's haul is worth a combined £81m, according to figures calculated by the National Crime Agency.

Commanding Officer of HMS Medway, Lieutenant Commander Jim Blythe, said:

"The Royal Navy and the US Coast Guard have prevented a significant quantity of drugs crossing the Caribbean that could have been destined for the streets of the UK.

"It is a testament to my ship's company, along with the US Coast Guard, that we have captured such a large amount of drugs and smugglers in such a short space of time.

"They have done themselves, their families and the country proud. This marks the start of what will hopefully be many interdiction operations as we continue to operate in the Caribbean."

The 28,000-tonne vessel used squalls as cover to stay out of sight and avoid raising suspicion – while her boarding team of Royal Marines of 47 Commando and the US Coast Guard prepared to strike.

On approaching the target craft, the Royal Marines were spotted and the suspect vessel's crew started to throw their illegal cargo overboard.

The crew of the intercepted vessel were brought back to RFA Argus along with their seized cargo before being transferred to US Coast Guard cutter Spencer.

Their boat was subsequently sunk by soldiers from 24 Commando Royal Engineers.

A few days later, offshore patrol ship Medway acted on reports of a suspicious go-fast, diverting course and launching sea boats piloted by Royal Navy sailors with a US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment aboard.

Sixteen bales of cocaine and three detainees were captured in the first boarding, which saw Medway catch up with the suspect craft from 45 miles out.

Just one day later more information was fed to Medway and she gave chase to another craft, landing a further nine bales and three more detainees.

Those detainees and the seized drugs have now been handed over to US authorities allowing Medway to resume patrols of the region.

Corporal Max Bygraves added:

"I am really pleased that all the hard work paid off. It was a team effort, and I am particularly proud of my team for the long hours they put in on the water."

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