HMS Trent, a Royal Navy patrol ship based in Portsmouth, has intercepted £160 million worth of cocaine from a ‘narco-sub’ in the Caribbean Sea.
Over the past seven months, the patrol vessel has carried out eight successful drug busts, preventing nearly £750 million worth of narcotics from reaching the UK and beyond.
The latest operation, conducted in partnership with the US Coast Guard and a US Maritime Patrol Aircraft, marks the first time the Royal Navy has intercepted a ‘narco-sub’. The semi-submersible vessel was stopped 190 nautical miles south of the Dominican Republic by a boarding team consisting of US Coast Guard personnel, Royal Marines from 47 Commando, and specialist sailors from HMS Trent.
The team seized 2,000kg of cocaine, delivering another significant blow to the Caribbean drugs trade.
Commander Tim Langford, HMS Trent’s Commanding Officer, said:
“It has been a busy but rewarding eight months for Trent while deployed to the Caribbean, and this latest seizure highlights the effectiveness of the Royal Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessels in carrying out this crucial mission.
“My skilled team and our embarked USCG Law Enforcement Detachment overcame challenging conditions to intercept this semi-submersible – a rare sight in the Caribbean – and were rewarded with another record haul.
“These operations are a team effort, requiring the involvement of every crew member, regardless of their usual role – they should be extremely proud of their achievements.”
The interception took place on 26 August, just 72 hours after Trent’s previous successful operation, in which 462kg of cocaine worth £37 million was seized. In a high-speed night-time pursuit north of the narco-sub’s location, Trent’s sea boats captured two suspects and 12 bales of drugs, which were handed over to US authorities.
HMS Trent has now seized a total of 9,459kg of drugs, valued at nearly £750 million, surpassing HMS Argyll as the Royal Navy’s most successful anti-smuggling vessel this century. HMS Argyll’s record of £620 million was achieved during patrols in the Caribbean in 2014.
These successful interceptions disrupt Transnational Criminal Organisations (TCOs) and demonstrate the Royal Navy’s vital role in maintaining maritime security and upholding international law both at home and abroad. This mission is particularly critical as the flow of drugs to Europe and the UK, where an estimated 117 tonnes are consumed annually, continues to rise significantly.
HMS Trent remains on patrol in the Caribbean, providing reassurance to British Overseas Territories during hurricane season (June to November) and countering the flow of illegal cargo through the region.
The ship carries approximately 50 specialists in disaster relief operations, including the Crisis Response Troop from 24 Commando Royal Engineers. Equipped with essential tools for infrastructure repair and life-saving medical supplies, the ship also utilises a drone system called Puma, operated by 700X Naval Air Squadron, for vital reconnaissance and surveillance.
Recently, HMS Trent visited the British Virgin Islands, assisting with repairs on Tortola following the passage of Tropical Storm Ernesto.
