Five arrested after ‘significant quantity of cocaine’ seized in Cornwall

Five men have been arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling after a “significant amount of cocaine” was found on a catamaran.

It comes six weeks after hundreds of drug-filled packages were discovered on a yacht taken to a port near where the catamaran was intercepted.

The boat was seized in the English Channel off the southwest coast of Cornwall and was escorted to Newlyn Harbor on Thursday morning.

The five men are being questioned by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers.

“As part of an operation led by the National Crime Agency, HMC Vigilant Border Force intercepted a catamaran off the southwest coast of Cornwall and escorted the vessel into Newlyn Harbor on Thursday morning,” an NCA spokesman said .

“The investigation is ongoing and a significant amount of cocaine has been recovered from the boat.

“Officers from the National Crime Agency and the Border Force, supported by Devon and Cornwall Police, remain at the scene as searches continue.

“Five men have been arrested for drug-trafficking offenses and are now being questioned by National Crime Agency officers.”

The joint operation was carried out with the help of the authorities, including the Irish Naval Service.

Last month, Dutch nationals Maarten Peter Pieterse, 59, and Emile Adriaan Jeroen Schoemaker, 44, were arrested and accused of trying to smuggle 1.6 tonnes of cocaine into the UK .

The National Crime Agency called the operation a “significant cocaine seizure” after they escorted the boat where the alleged cocaine was found to Newlyn.

They will judge next year.