Three Scots arrested after half-TONNE cocaine haul worth £40million ‘smuggled into UK by boat’

THREE Scots have been arrested after half a TONNE of cocaine worth £40million was allegedly smuggled on a rigid inflatable boat.

The men, all from Argyll, were detained on suspicion of conspiracy to import class A drugs on Saturday in Lelley, near Hull, E Yorks, following a National Crime Agency operation.

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The trio plus another male from Colombia were lifted in the operation which was supported by Humberside Police, the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit and Border Force.

It follows the seizure of around 500 kilos of cocaine found in the back of a Vauxhall Vivaro van in the car park of the Stags Head Inn in Lelley.

It is claimed that the drugs had been transferred from a larger vessel sailing off the coast of Hull using a rigid inflatable boat a few hours before.

The smaller boat was later found abandoned on rocks at Easington Beach, Co Durham.

The men being quizzed by NCA investogators are a 22-year-old and a 32-year-old from Oban, a 24-year-old from Campbeltown and a 39-year-old from Colombia.

NCA Senior Investigating Officer Alan French said: “This was a significant amount of cocaine.

“There’s no doubt these drugs would have been sold into communities around the UK, fuelling further crime and exploitation.

“Working with our law enforcement partners we are determined to do all we can to disrupt criminal activity, and protect the UK’s border security.

“Our investigation continues following these arrests.”