The British Royal Navy says it has struck a major blow to the Caribbean cocaine trade after one of its patrol ships seized cocaine with a street value of more than £40 million in the Caribbean Sea.
The Royal Navy said this is HMS Trent's sixth interception this year, bringing the total amount of drugs seized to £551.5 million.
Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard says this recent operation highlights the Royal Navy's vital role in maintaining maritime security and upholding international law in the region.
The Royal Navy says in this latest operation, earlier this month HMS Trent was alerted to a speed boat suspected to be smuggling cocaine around 120 nautical miles south of the Dominican Republic.
With a US Maritime Patrol Aircraft flying overhead, the Portsmouth-based warship closed in and dispatched the Royal Marines and US Coast Guard on board to intercept the vessel.
The Royal Navy said the smugglers threw their cargo overboard during the operation, but the contraband was recovered.
Three smugglers were handed over to the United States authorities for prosecution.
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