In a remarkable operation, HMS Trent, a Royal Navy warship, has seized a semi-submersible submarine carrying £160 million worth of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea.
The interception marks a significant milestone as HMS Trent becomes the first Royal Navy patrol ship to successfully board a drug-smuggling submarine, spotlighting the growing challenges posed by drug traffickers in the region.
The operation unfolded approximately 190 nautical miles south of the Dominican Republic, where HMS Trent collaborated with the US Coast Guard and a US maritime patrol aircraft to target the illicit vessel
Navy personnel boarded the sub and confiscated an impressive 2,000 kg of cocaine, demonstrating the effectiveness of multi-national efforts in tackling drug trafficking.
Commander Tim Langford, the ship’s commanding officer, expressed pride in the crew’s achievements over the past eight months, during which HMS Trent has seized nearly £750 million worth of cocaine across eight operations.
“It has been a busy yet rewarding eight months for Trent, and this latest seizure underscores the effectiveness of the Royal Navy’s offshore patrol vessels in carrying out vital tasks,” Langford stated.
As traffickers increasingly utilize narco subs to transport their illegal cargo to the US and Europe, HMS Trent, equipped with 50 disaster relief specialists, will continue its patrols to support British Overseas Territories amid the ongoing hurricane season.
Despite these significant seizures, the broader “war on drugs” remains contentious, with critics arguing that efforts by the US and UK have fallen short of curbing domestic demand for illegal substances, which in turn fuels the violent drug trade.
