BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – A British ship patrolling in the Caribbean waters made a £180 million (US$350 million) drug haul, the Royal Navy reported Wednesday.

The Navy said the RFA
Wave Ruler intercepted the
Venezuelan-registered fishing
boat, Oliana 1, carrying
2.9 tonnes of cocaine, 620 nautical
miles north-east of Barbados.

The officials said the 65-foot boat was tracked down by the ship's helicopter and after ignoring radio calls, the fishing boat was boarded by a United Coast Guard detachment which was travelling as part of the crew on the Wave Ruler.

They said the crew claimed
they were on a fishing expedition,
but on checking the vessel the
cocaine was found in the hold,
following which the crew members
were detained before being handed
over to Venezuelan authorities.

Noting that it was the third major successful haul in Caribbean waters in three months, Defence Secretary Des Brown praised the officers for their successful work in intercepting drugs which, he said, were destined for the streets of Europe.

"Once again, they have delivered a massive blow to the drug runners who profit from this awful trade. With three drug busts in as many months, this has been a fantastically successful deployment for the crew," he said.

Brown said that in making the seizures the crew prevented "a staggering 11 tonnes" of drugs from entering Britain.

Captain Dale Willington said "support by the United States, Britain and Caribbean regional security organisations illustratrates the effectiveness of close cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking". (CMC)