Devon & Cornwall police help drugs bust

Cocaine valued at several millions of pounds

Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police joined the National Crime Agency, Border Force and the National Maritime Intelligence Agency in intercepting a yacht laden with one of the biggest hauls of cocaine ever seized. An estimated two tonnes of the Class A drug were on board when the vessel was intercepted 120 miles off the south west coast on Wednesday 18 July.

Border Force cutter HMS Vigilent caught Dutch-flagged SY Marcia and, with it, two men who have subsequently been charged with drug importation offences. At one point during the extensive search, a Royal Navy bomb squad was called to investigate a suspicious package, but eventually the yacht was cleared for the investigation to continue.

Maarten Peter Pieterse, 59, did not enter a plea when he appeared by video link on Saturday in front of Bristol magistrates. Emile Adriaan Jeroen Schoemaker, 44, pleaded not guilty. They have been remanded in custody and will appear at Bristol Crown Court on 20 August.

NCA regional head of investigations Andy Quinn says: “Intercepting this vessel took international co-operation and I’d like to pay tribute to all those involved, not least our Border Force colleagues who located and boarded the boat and then brought it back into port to be searched.

“The criminal trade in drugs is driven by financial gain, and the loss of the profit that would have been made from this seizure it will be a major hit to the international criminal networks involved. While the end destination is unclear at this stage, I’ve no doubt that this was destined for the European market. At least a proportion of this cocaine would have ended up here in the UK, sold by drugs gangs who are also involved in intimidation, exploitation and violence."