The UK's Royal Navy have seized a record amount of cocaine in an anti-smuggling operation.Operating on intelligence from helicopter surveillance, navy frigate HMS Iron Duke intercepted a fishing boat - the MV Cristal - off the coast of Colombia. After a 24hour search, 212 bales of cocaine, each weighing approximately 26kg, were discovered underneath some concrete ballast in a hidden compartment of the boat.
HMS Iron Duke is ostensibly in the region to provide assistance in the event of a hurricane disaster, but also engages in anti-trafficking operations.
Although boats carrying cocaine are believed to leave the shores of South America many times a day, this is only the 3rd drug seizure in as many months for HMS Iron Duke. Small wonder, then, that the frigate's commander, Andrew Stacey, talks up the success of the operation. Speaking to the press, Stacey said:
"This is the largest seizure of cocaine in Royal Navy history, and is a very significant victory in the continuing fight against illegal drugs"
Despite the notable quantity of the drug seized, it is unlikely that purity or price of cocaine will be affected. World cocaine prices have continued to fall over the last decade, though purity at street level can vary markedly.
Read at BBC News, with some decent commentary on the affair at The Independent, courtesy of Tom Sutcliffe.
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