Royal Navy’s HMS Trent Seizes First ‘Narco Sub’ With £160m Cocaine Haul‌ ‌

The Royal Navy seized the narco-sub in the Caribbean Sea. ROYAL NAVY VIA SWNS

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The Royal Navy has intercepted its first-ever “narco sub” – filled with £160m ($208M) worth of cocaine.

HMS Trent seized the vessel in the Caribbean Sea.

In eight drugs busts in seven months, the Portsmouth-based patrol ship has stopped nearly £750m ($979M) of narcotics reaching the streets of the UK in eight months.

Trent’s latest operation, alongside the US Coast Guard and a US Maritime Patrol Aircraft, was the first “narco-sub” the Royal Navy has ever intercepted.

The ship’s boarding team – comprising US Coast Guard personnel, Royal Marines from 47 Commando and specialist sailors – clambered aboard the semi-submersed vessel in waters 190 nautical miles south of the Dominican Republic.

The team seized 2,000kg of cocaine with a street value of £160m, striking yet another blow to the Caribbean drugs trade.

HMS Trent’s Commanding Officer, Commander Tim Langford, said: “It has been a busy yet rewarding eight months for Trent whilst deployed to the Caribbean, and this latest seizure reinforces the utility of the Royal Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessels in the delivery of this vital tasking.

“My skilled team and our embarked USCG Law Enforcement Detachment fought challenging conditions to interdict this semi-submersible – rarely seen in the Caribbean – and were rewarded with another record haul.

“These operations are a team effort, and require involvement from every single member of my crew irrespective of their usual role – they can be extremely proud of what they have achieved.”