Working with the US Coast Guard and a US marine patrol aircraft, HMS Trent found the vessel 190 nautical miles south of the Dominican Republic.
The navy reported that on August 26, 2,000 kg of cocaine was found being smuggled across the Caribbean Sea. This brings the total amount of drugs that HMS Trent has found during eight “drugs busts” over the course of seven months of operations to around £750 million.
This is the first time a narco-submarine has been intercepted by a warship of the Royal Navy.
A “high-speed night-time pursuit” resulted in the arrest of two persons and the seizure of twelve bales of cocaine.
Drug smugglers utilize the semi-submersible boats, which float low in the water to avoid detection.
The drug seizure, which featured Royal Marines from 47 Commando and specialized sailors, happened barely 72 hours after Trent’s previous successful haul, in which 462 kg of cocaine valued at £37 million was confiscated, according to a Royal Navy official.
Two suspects and twelve cocaine bales were apprehended during a high-speed nighttime pursuit by Trent’s sea vessels, approximately ninety nautical miles north of the point where the narco-sub was stopped, according to the statement. The drugs were ready to be turned over to US authorities.