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Two tonnes of cocaine seized from boat off Cornwall Two tonnes of cocaine seized from boat off Cornwall
(35 minutes later)
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.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 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. The Dutch nationals were arrested after two tonnes of cocaine were found aboard the vessel, which was escorted 120 miles to the harbour of Newlyn, a popular Cornish seaside town.
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”. 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. They were accused of being “knowingly concerned in the carrying or concealing of controlled drug of class A, namely cocaine”.
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. Pieterse did not enter a plea, and Schoemaker pleaded not guilty. They have been remanded in custody and are due to appear at Bristol crown court on 20 August.
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 in a compartment beneath the decking area at the stern of the boat.
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 cocaine seizure in the UK came in 2015 when a yacht was raided off the coast of Aberdeen and more than three tonnes – with an estimated street value of £512m – was found aboard.
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 Information Centre and the joint Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics in Lisbon.
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: “This is … 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.
Andy Quinn, the National Crime Agency’s regional head of investigations, said the find would prove a “major hit” to the global cocaine trade. “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 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. “This seizure will be a major hit to the international criminal networks involved.”
“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.” After the Netherlands-registered SY Marcia was intercepted, police temporarily closed Newlyn 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.
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. The prosecutor Andy Young applied for the two Dutch men to be remanded in custody on Saturday and also suggested the haul may yet increase. “The searches are ongoing and therefore more maybe on there,” he said.
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. Pieterse and Schoemaker spoke to the court only to confirm their names, dates of birth, Dutch nationality and to say that they did not have UK addresses.
“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, 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 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. The haul eclipses by far the previous largest seizure of cocaine off the south-west of England. The fishing boat Bianca was intercepted off the coast of Cornwall in 2016 with almost a tonne onboard.
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. The boat’s skipper, Michael McDermott, was jailed for 16 years, and his shipmates, David Pleasants and Gerald Van de Kooij, were jailed for 14 and 12 years respectively.
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