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| Boat seized in Pwllheli after £100m cocaine haul | Boat seized in Pwllheli after £100m cocaine haul |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A motorboat believed to be linked to the discovery of £100m of cocaine on a yacht off the Irish coast has been seized at a north Wales marina. | A motorboat believed to be linked to the discovery of £100m of cocaine on a yacht off the Irish coast has been seized at a north Wales marina. |
| The yacht, Makayabella, was intercepted on Tuesday after it was tracked from the Caribbean and security sources said it had been destined for north Wales. | The yacht, Makayabella, was intercepted on Tuesday after it was tracked from the Caribbean and security sources said it had been destined for north Wales. |
| It is believed the 25ft vessel seized at Pwllheli Marina in Gwynedd was to be used as an accomplice to ferry the tonne of drugs to shore. | It is believed the 25ft vessel seized at Pwllheli Marina in Gwynedd was to be used as an accomplice to ferry the tonne of drugs to shore. |
| Five British men have been arrested. | Five British men have been arrested. |
| The National Crime Agency (NCA) said the inquiry in Gwynedd followed an operation to track the 60ft Makayabella yacht from Venezuala, before stopping it in a surprise sea raid 300 miles off the south west coast of the Republic of Ireland. | The National Crime Agency (NCA) said the inquiry in Gwynedd followed an operation to track the 60ft Makayabella yacht from Venezuala, before stopping it in a surprise sea raid 300 miles off the south west coast of the Republic of Ireland. |
| It is understood the 41 bales of cocaine were bound for the north of England as part of a transatlantic drugs smuggling operation. | It is understood the 41 bales of cocaine were bound for the north of England as part of a transatlantic drugs smuggling operation. |
| Three men on the yacht - the 70-year-old skipper, along with a 35-year-old and a 28-year-old - were arrested after Irish navy officers stormed the vessel in an overnight operation also involving the UK, France and Venezuela. | |
| They are from West Yorkshire, where police arrested two other men aged 43 and 47 in follow-up raids. | They are from West Yorkshire, where police arrested two other men aged 43 and 47 in follow-up raids. |
| Officers also want to talk to a sixth man on suspicion of involvement in the massive drugs smuggling operation. | Officers also want to talk to a sixth man on suspicion of involvement in the massive drugs smuggling operation. |
| The three men who were taken off the yacht are being questioned in Cork and can be held for seven days. | The three men who were taken off the yacht are being questioned in Cork and can be held for seven days. |
| The 43-year-old man arrested in Leeds on suspicion of conspiring to import class A drugs was later bailed pending further inquiries. | The 43-year-old man arrested in Leeds on suspicion of conspiring to import class A drugs was later bailed pending further inquiries. |
| Commander David Norris, of the NCA, who is leading the investigation, said they have been granted more time to question the 47-year-old suspect still in custody in the UK. | Commander David Norris, of the NCA, who is leading the investigation, said they have been granted more time to question the 47-year-old suspect still in custody in the UK. |
| "This has been a complex and fast-moving investigation, involving law enforcement agencies in the UK, Ireland, Europe and South America," he added. | "This has been a complex and fast-moving investigation, involving law enforcement agencies in the UK, Ireland, Europe and South America," he added. |
| "Our inquiries are continuing, and we still wish to speak to one other individual in connection with this, a 29-year-old man from the Halton Moor area of Leeds. | "Our inquiries are continuing, and we still wish to speak to one other individual in connection with this, a 29-year-old man from the Halton Moor area of Leeds. |
| "I would urge him to contact us." | "I would urge him to contact us." |
| The NCA said the boat seized in Pwllheli Marina is now being examined by crime scene investigators at another location. | The NCA said the boat seized in Pwllheli Marina is now being examined by crime scene investigators at another location. |