HMS Mersey helps seize £12m worth of drugs

The Royal Navy ship HMS Mersey has played a key role in intercepting a vessel which was suspected to be smuggling cocaine off the coast of Nicaragua.

The ship worked in conjunction with the Canadian Navy and US Coastguard in the operation to seize a small yacht, bound for Honduras. The vessel was initially stopped and searched by a US Coast
Guard team who identified 304kg of drugs onboard.

HMS Mersey responded to the discovery by sending a small team on its Pacific rigid inflatable, to take charge of three suspects and bring them back to the ship. The team returned to collect 16 bales of cocaine, which reportedly had a wholesale value of around £12,000,000.

The drugs were passed on to American law enforcement officials aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Thetis.

Commenting on the seizure, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “This underlines the strength and global reach of our Royal Navy. Backed by a rising defence budget, the Navy plays a key role in tackling the global drugs trade, while delivering reassurance to Britain’s overseas territories.”