Prince William was part of a Royal Navy helicopter crew that took part in a dramatic £40 million cocaine seizure from drug runners in the Caribbean.
AP The ship which Prince William is serving aboard, the HMS Iron Duke, intercepts a speedboat northeast of Barbados The raid took place only four days after Prince William’s frigate HMS Iron Duke began its five week anti-drugs patrols in the region.
Sub-Lieutenant Wales, 26, as he is known in the Navy, was involved in planning the operation and carrying out surveillance of the drugs boat. HMS Iron Duke spent several days tracking down the vessel, which appeared to be heading for Europe or West Africa, after receiving a tip-off from the US authorities.
At dawn on Saturday the warship’s Lynx helicopter was scrambled, with the 26-year-old Prince on board to assist with surveillance. The 50-foot boat was ordered to stop by the Lynx helicopter. US Coast Guard officials on the British frigate boarded the vessel and found 45 bales of cocaine weighing a total of 1,980lb (900kg). The five-strong crew was detained and the cocaine is now on board the Iron Duke.
Iron Duke doing any 'flag' visits on its way home?
What do they do with 45 bales of cocaine anyway? Keep it for evidence? Mix it with the diesel and burn it? Sprinkle it on the ocean and numb the fish? Take it back to Blighty and a swell night at the disco?
Gadzooks hope they have Marines guarding it, and any white powders in the galley.
BZ to HMS Iron Duke. Welcome to the fight. Nearly a ton of cocaine will do has much harm to society than a company of armed terrorist.
For legal reasons, the USCG LE team must execute all seizures and arrests. The Royal Navy, US Navy, and other foreign navies offer the use of their ships to supplement USCG vessels on station. The seized narcotics and arrested prisoners are under the custody of the USCG LE team afloat. Once in port, custody of narcotics is transferred to Customs and the prisoners go to the Marshalls. The US Attorney's office of where the prisoners are taken prosecute the case. It doesn't matter where the seizure is made, only where the case if filed. Tampa and Miami have lawyers that specialized in these cases.
Originally posted by RBruce: BZ to HMS Iron Duke. Welcome to the fight. Nearly a ton of cocaine will do has much harm to society than a company of armed terrorist.
For legal reasons, the USCG LE team must execute all seizures and arrests. The Royal Navy, US Navy, and other foreign navies offer the use of their ships to supplement USCG vessels on station. The seized narcotics and arrested prisoners are under the custody of the USCG LE team afloat. Once in port, custody of narcotics is transferred to Customs and the prisoners go to the Marshalls. The US Attorney's office of where the prisoners are taken prosecute the case. It doesn't matter where the seizure is made, only where the case if filed. Tampa and Miami have lawyers that specialized in these cases.
You just answered the questions I was going to ask. Cheers.
