Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Lamiat Sabin

Six men charged after £160m of cocaine seized off Plymouth coast

National Crime Agency

Six men have been charged with drugs trafficking offences after more than two tonnes of cocaine – estimated to be worth £160 million – was seized on a luxury yacht near Plymouth.

The men, one British national and five Nicaraguans, will appear at Plymouth magistrates’ court tomorrow (13 September).

The British suspect has been identified as Andrew Cole, 32, from Stockton on Tees, County Durham.

The five Nicaraguan men have been named as Billy Downs, 49, Denson White-Morales, 34, Edwin Taylor-Morgan, 40, Brynie Sjogreen, 38, and Ryan Taylor, 42.

The cocaine was discovered on Thursday evening after the yacht was intercepted and raided off the coast of Plymouth.

The operation had been led by the National Crime Agency (NCA) as well as Border Force and the Australian Federal Police.

Australian officers based in the UK tipped off the NCA about an alleged transnational drugs gang using the vessel to ship cocaine.

Matt Horne, NCA deputy director, said: “There’s no doubt these drugs would have been sold on into communities across the UK in such ways as County Lines fuelling more crime and misery.

“Organised crime groups are motivated by money. The deprivation of these drugs will smash a hole in the OCGs’ [organised crime gangs’] plans and ability to operate.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.