U.K. - RFA Wave Knight in Caribbean Cocain Bust

[Spencer]

Older story but a good one.

U.K. - RFA Wave Knight in Caribbean Cocain Bust

http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/rn/cont...=1&article=763

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker RFA Wave Knight has played a major part in the seizure of over a ton of cocaine, dumped by smugglers fleeing in their high-speed boat. The drug-running boat was spotted running at about 35 knots from RFA Wave Knight and the US Coast Guard helicopter embarked in the RFA ship was launched to investigate. As the helicopter pursued the boat, the crew jettisoned their drugs cargo to gain more speed. The pursuit forced the smugglers’ craft into Colombian waters, but it then eluded searching Colombian aircraft and vessels.

Meanwhile, RFA Wave Knight followed the path of the fleeing boat, recovering their jettisoned cargo of 26 bales of cocaine, total weight of over one ton, and with a street value of 30-35 million US dollars. If they had not been intercepted, these drugs would almost certainly have found their way on to the streets of the UK or USA. The incident occurred last week (27 January), about 120 miles north of the Caribbean coast of Colombia, where RFA Wave Knight was carrying out counter-drugs operations, in company with the US coast Guard cutter Tampa. As part of this operation the RFA ship was carrying a US Coast Guard HH-65 helicopter and US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Team.