A Lynx Helicopter was dispatched from the warship to track down the 50-foot speedboat. Prince William took part in a major drug bust as his Royal Navy ship seized cocaine worth at least 40 million pounds ($80 million), according to the U. The Ministry of Defence confirmed Prince William was part of the ship\’s company during the seizure, but did not specify his role. \”From the first moment the Lynx Helicopter discovered the suspect vessel, my ship\’s company, working hand in glove with our US Coast Guard colleagues, turned this opportunity into a certainty and ultimately a successful seizure.
The identities of the five men are not known. The boat was in very poor condition and was actually sinking as it was boarded. US Coast Guard officials on board the HMS Iron Duke intercepted a speedboat hundreds of miles off the coast of Barbados on Saturday, and found 900kg worth of cocaine bales on board. \”The Prince is on board the warship as part of a two-month secondment to the Navy as he prepares for his future position as head of the armed forces.
\”I am immensely proud of all their efforts. Five crew members on board the boat, which later sank, were detained and the drugs transfered to the Royal Navy frigate. \’s Ministry of Defence. \”This is a fantastic start to HMS Iron Duke\’s north Atlantic deployment,\” said the ship\’s commanding officer, Commander Mark Newland.
It is in the region to assist with disaster relief and US Coast Guard operations, and provide naval support for UK overseas territories and commonwealth countries. The HMS Iron Duke intercepted an oceangoing speedboat Saturday at 1712 BST, hundreds of miles northeast of Barbados, in a joint operation with the United States Coast Guard, the Defense Ministry said. \”To have had a direct impact on the flow of cocaine into Europe just four days after we arrived in theatre shows the benefit the Royal Navy can have in the area of maritime security and counter-drug operations. Personnel from the US Coast Guard onboard the Royal Navy ship boarded the boat and seized 45 bales of cocaine, weighing a total of 900 kilos (1,984 pounds).
The Ministry of Defence said the smugglers\’ boat later sank. They arrested its five man crew and transferred the drugs to the HMS Iron Duke. The ship\’s commander, Mark Newland, told ABC that Prince William was onboard the helicopter. K.
THE Royal Navy warship on which Prince William is serving has seized more than £40m worth of cocaine during a drugs raid, it was revealed today. The boat\’s position suggested it was heading for Europe or West Africa.