Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Trent has intercepted a narco-submarine carrying £160 million worth of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea, marking the Royal Navy’s first successful interdiction of such a vessel, according to a press release.
This latest operation brings the ship’s total narcotics seizures to nearly £750 million over eight months, a major blow to drug trafficking operations in the region.
The interception took place 190 nautical miles south of the Dominican Republic, where Trent’s boarding team, which included US Coast Guard personnel, Royal Marines from 47 Commando, and specialist sailors, seized 2,000kg of cocaine from the semi-submersed vessel.
HMS Trent’s Commanding Officer, Commander Tim Langford, commended the crew’s efforts, stating: “My skilled team and our embarked USCG Law Enforcement Detachment fought challenging conditions to interdict this semi-submersible…they can be extremely proud of what they have achieved.”
This was HMS Trent’s eighth major drug bust in just seven months. Only three days prior to the narco-sub interception, Trent had pursued and seized 462kg of cocaine in a high-speed night operation.
The Royal Navy say here that the ship’s cumulative success in the Caribbean has now surpassed that of HMS Argyll, which previously held the record for drug interdictions by a Royal Navy vessel, with £620 million in narcotics seized.
In addition to drug interdiction, HMS Trent continues its broader mission in the region, patrolling during hurricane season and providing a reassuring presence for British Overseas Territories. The ship also carries disaster relief specialists and equipment for infrastructure repairs, as well as the Puma drone system for reconnaissance.
Probably one of the most cost-effective uses of RN assets at the moment.
My proposed solution to the RN’s SSN gap:
Pay out prize money to River OPV captains who capture Cartel Submarines, then put said captured submarines into service with the RN. If it was good enough for Nelson it’s good enough for us.
Probably more like head money for the West Africa squadron, so no prizes, but a good idea if we shared say 1% of drugs value between the crew of any capturing ship.
I imagine 1% of the produce itself would have a similar motivating effect 😜
Head money won’t solve the submarine shortage though.
Do dockyard crews get a bonus after putting a ship through refit?
No?
Ummm… err…one point in the article does not quite compute. “Trent pursued and seized…in a high-speed night operation.” Flank speed for OPVs? Puma UAV armed? Other unnamed assets (presumably shore based air) involved?
Actually, similar question(s) for article’s principal subject. Did HMS Trent’s onboard sensors detect the semi-submersible, or, more probably an ISTAR asset in the region? Credit should be awarded to all participants, unless some wish to remain in the shadows.
Flank Speed for a River B2 is 25knots, which while slow for a warship is still respectable.
Thanks, infer from the account that other, unnamed assets participated in both actions.
Flog the drugs on the “open” market and use the money to restore the Pensioners Winter Fuel Allowance.
😀😀😀
Funny how the RN can do this thousands of miles away but can’t protect our borders on our own coast from literal invasion…….absolute joke, more like they seized some drugs that weren’t authorised by the government.