A significant amount of cocaine has been seized from a catamaran intercepted by the UK Border Force off the Cornish coast.

The yacht was escorted into the fishing port of Newlyn, near Penzance, by the force’s cutter HMC Vigilant. Five men were arrested and a detailed search of the vessel was being carried out.

Officers from HMC Vigilant intercept the catamaran off the south-west coast of Cornwall. Photograph: National Crime Agency

A spokesman for the National Crime Agency said on Thursday: “The investigation is ongoing and a significant quantity of cocaine has been removed from the boat. NCA and border force officers, supported by Devon and Cornwall police, remain at the scene as searches continue.

“Five men have been arrested for drug trafficking offences and are now being questioned by NCA officers.”

NCA and Border Force officers have intercepted a catamaran containing cocaine off the coast of Cornwall.



The NCA led operation has resulted in a significant amount of cocaine being removed from the vessel in Newlyn harbour and five men arrested on drug trafficking offences. pic.twitter.com/f3ZzFolev9 — NationalCrimeAgency (@NCA_UK) August 30, 2018

Specialists from the national deep rummage team (NDRT), who are trained to find hidden compartments on vessels, were involved in the search.

Last month two Dutch nationals were arrested after the Netherlands-registered SY Marcia was intercepted off the coast of south-west Cornwall and escorted to Newlyn.

Maarten Peter Pieterse, 59, and Emile Adriaan Jeroen Schoemaker, 44, appeared in court in Bristol via video link earlier this week accused of attempting to smuggle 1.6 tonnes of cocaine into the UK. They did not enter pleas and the judge, Martin Picton, told them they would face a two-week trial beginning on 14 January.



During the search of the SY Marcia, a suspicious package was found and the bomb squad was called in but the operation resumed after the all-clear was given.



