From itv News UK

Two men from Jersey have been arrested after the UK-registered vessel SY Hygeia of Halsa was boarded by French customs off the island of Martinique on Monday as it began a transatlantic crossing.

On board, they discovered around 550lb of cocaine – estimated to have a street value of up to £40 million. It followed an investigation involving the Metropolitan Police, their French counterparts and officials from the National Crime Agency (NCA).

We have no doubt that without this intervention the drugs would have ended up on the streets of the UK where, after being cut, they would have had a likely potential value of £30-40 million.

Our investigation into the organised crime network involved in this attempt continues.

– HANK COLE, THE NCA’S HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS

Two months ago, around a tonne of cocaine was seized by the Irish Naval Service acting on information supplied by the NCA.

Two men – aged 57 and 42 – were arrested and now face possible prosecution by the French authorities.

The operation followed an investigation by the Met and NCA into a London-based organised crime group, with connections to the Caribbean, suspected of being involved in the large-scale importation of class A drugs

It is clear that the drugs recovered would have been distributed throughout the streets of London and beyond, generating further criminality and fuelling gang activity.

If you deal in drugs in any scale we will find you, we will arrest you, and you will face the consequences of your actions.

DETECTIVE SUPERINTENDENT NEIL THOMPSON

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Two men from Jersey have been arrested after their yacht was boarded by officers in the Caribbean as it made its way to the UK. Photo: National Crime Agency/PA Wire
The drugs are estimated to be worth up to £40 million. Credit: National Crime Agency/PA Wire

For more on this story go to: http://www.itv.com/news/2014-11-07/police-find-40-million-drug-haul-destined-for-uk-on-yacht-in-the-caribbean/