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Two men charged over cocaine seized from boat in English Channel Two men charged as two tonnes of cocaine seized from boat off Cornwall
(about 3 hours later)
Two men have been charged with drug importation offences after a yacht carrying what police described as a significant cargo of cocaine was intercepted in the harbour of one of Cornwall’s most popular seaside towns. Two men have been charged after a yacht carrying what is thought to be the second-biggest haul of cocaine found in the UK was intercepted off the coast of Cornwall.
The Dutch nationals were arrested afterraided by Border Force officers raided the yacht they were sailing as it entered the fishing port of Newlyn. The Dutch nationals were arrested after two tonnes of cocaine was seized from a sailing boat 120 miles off the coast and escorted into the harbour of Newlyn, a popular Cornish seaside town.
Police temporarily closed the harbour, which is home to one of the largest fishing fleets in the UK and an established tourist destination, as officers searched the vessel a short distance offshore. Dutch nationals Maarten Peter Pieterse, 59, and Emile Adriaan Jeroen Schoemaker, 44, appeared before Bristol magistrates court on Saturday via-video link from the Cornish town of Camborne, where they were accused of being “knowingly concerned in the carrying or concealing of controlled drug of class A, namely cocaine”.
Maarten Peter Pieterse, 59, and Emile Adriaan Jeroen Schoemaker, 44, are due to appear via video link at Bristol magistrates court on Saturday. Pieterse did not enter a plea, whilst Schoemaker pleaded not guilty. They have been remanded in custody and are due to appear at Bristol crown court on 20 August.
The National Crime Agency, which led the investigation, described the haul as a “significant seizure of cocaine”, but the precise quantity is not yet known. Prosecutors revealed that the amount of the class A drugs found may yet increase further, although the purity of the haul has not yet been disclosed.
Officers discovered dozens of bales of cocaine wrapped in plastic bagging in a compartment beneath the decking area at the rear of the boat.
The largest seizure of the drug in the UK came in 2015 when a yacht was raided off the coast of Aberdeen and more than three tonnes of cocaine – with an estimated street value of £512m – was found aboard.
The latest interception followed an international operation involving police in Portugal, France and the Netherlands along with the UK’s National Maritime Intelligence Centre and the joint Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics in Lisbon.
Andy Quinn, the National Crime Agency’s regional head of investigations, said the find would prove a “major hit” to the global cocaine trade.
“This is a huge haul of class A drugs, one of the largest seizures of class A ever in the UK, and with a potential street value likely to be in the hundreds of millions,” he said.
“While the end destination is unclear at this stage, I’ve no doubt that this was destined for the European market. At least a proportion of this cocaine would have ended up here in the UK, sold by drugs gangs who are also involved in intimidation, exploitation and violence. This seizure will be a major hit to the international criminal networks involved.”
During the latest seizure, from the Netherlands-registered SY Marcia, police temporarily closed the harbour, home to one of the largest fishing fleets in the UK and an established tourist destination, as officers searched the vessel a short distance offshore.
On Saturday prosecutor Andy Young applied for the two Dutch men to be remanded in custody and also suggested the haul of cocaine may yet increase further.
“The searches are ongoing and therefore more maybe on there,” said Young.
Pieterse and Schoemaker spoke to the court only to confirm their names, dates of birth, Dutch nationalities and to say that they did not have UK addresses.
Newlyn’s harbourmaster had earlier explained that the port had been briefly closed for public safety reasons while the raid was carried out.Newlyn’s harbourmaster had earlier explained that the port had been briefly closed for public safety reasons while the raid was carried out.
The Border Force cutter HMC Vigilant, whose primary brief is to detect “prohibited and restricted goods” in UK waters, docked in the harbour after the raid was complete.The Border Force cutter HMC Vigilant, whose primary brief is to detect “prohibited and restricted goods” in UK waters, docked in the harbour after the raid was complete.
The National Crime Agency said: “Our operation at the harbour will continue over the weekend with ongoing support from Border Force and Devon and Cornwall police.” The National Crime Agency, which led the investigation, said: “Our operation at the harbour will continue over the weekend with ongoing support from Border Force and Devon and Cornwall police.”
The haul eclipses by far the largest seizure of cocaine found off the south-west of England. In 2016 the fishing boat Bianca was intercepted off the coast of Cornwall with almost one tonne of cocaine onboard, worth £80m.
Fishing boat skipper Michael McDermott was jailed for 16 years while his shipmates David Pleasants and Gerald Van de Kooij were jailed for 14 years and 12 years respectively.
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