Rusty trawler had five and a half tonnes of illicit drug under false concrete deck
When the crew of a Royal Navy helicopter spotted the MV Cristal off South America, their suspicions were aroused as the rusty trawler, with no nets in sight, ploughed through an area notorious for drug traffickers. Within hours, HMS Iron Duke had made the largest haul of cocaine in British naval history.
Interception of the 138-ft boat off Brazil led to the discovery of more than five and a half tonnes of the narcotic, with a street value of £240m. The previous largest haul was 4.7 tonnes of cocaine, discovered in 1999 by HMS Marlborough. The latest consignment was discovered on 15 September, hidden beneath tonnes of fishing supplies and a false concrete deck in the hold, which had to be broken up by sledge hammers; then metal panels were pried open, revealing bales of drugs. A boarding party of British sailors and the US Coastguard took 24 hours to search the vessel and unload the drugs.
I am not sure if it is called the High Seas because of the buzz from cocaine or high seize given the amount discovered...
