Five men charged after cocaine worth £34m seized at Eastbourne Sovereign Harbour
Cocaine worth more than £30m was recovered in a drugs investigation in Eastbourne, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA).
The NCA confirmed five men were arrested following the bust in Sovereign Harbour on Monday, June 8.
A spokesperson for the agency said: “NCA officers struck shortly after 1pm, arresting the suspects at Eastbourne Marina and seizing 425kg of the Class A drug which has a street value of £34m.
“It is alleged four of the men had returned to shore on the fishing vessel New Horizon after collecting the drugs which had been dropped in the English Channel by another vessel.
"The fifth man was not on the boat and was arrested when the other four returned to harbour.”
They added: “The NCA was also assisted by the Joint Maritime Security Centre, Sussex Police and Police Scotland where a number of searches have been carried out.”
Carl Barrass, NCA senior investigating officer, said: “The recovery of this quantity of cocaine represents a significant loss to the organised crime group behind its importation and will impact its ability to continue operating.”
The NCA later confirmed that five men had been charged in connection with the investigation.
They appeared at Brighton and Hove Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (June 10) and were remanded to appear at Lewes Crown Court on July 8.
An NCA spokesperson said: “The following are charged with conspiring to fraudulently evade a prohibition on the importation of a Class A drug: Alan John Colquhoun, 49, of Oberon, Alloa, Clackmannanshire.
William Donohoe, 38, of Sycamore Drive, Craigneuk, Airdrie. Ian Smith, 49, of New College Close, Eastbourne, East Sussex. Jacob Cronin, 31, of Elgar Way, Eastbourne, East Sussex. Daniel Ruffell, 35, of Humber Way, Slough, Berkshire.”