£34m Cocaine Haul Seized After Fishing Boat Operation In Eastbourne

Almost half a tonne of cocaine with an estimated street value of around £34 million has been seized following a major operation in East Sussex.

Five men have been arrested after officers boarded a fishing vessel, the New Horizon, at Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne on Monday afternoon.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) says a total of 425kg of Class A drugs was recovered during the operation.

Investigators believe the drugs were dropped into the English Channel from another vessel before being collected at sea and brought back towards shore.

Four of the men are alleged to have retrieved the packages from the water, before returning to harbour, where they were detained.

A fifth man was arrested separately when the boat came back into port.

The suspects, aged between 32 and 49 and from Scotland and Eastbourne, remain in custody for questioning.

The operation involved the NCA’s Maritime, Aviation and Military Intervention Cell, alongside the Joint Maritime Security Centre, Sussex Police and Police Scotland.

Searches have also been carried out in Scotland as part of the wider investigation.

NCA investigator Carl Barrass said the seizure represents a significant blow to the organised crime group behind the smuggling operation, and will disrupt its ability to continue importing drugs.