To beachgoers and dog walkers on the Cornish coast, the scene likely resembled something from a crime drama. A high-speed ocean pursuit ended with two boats running aground, three men staggering into the dunes, arrests, and the seizure of cocaine worth millions.
For authorities, it marked the beginning of a meticulous investigation, revealing a method used by South American drug traffickers and British criminal networks—known as at-sea drop-offs. Ships crossing the Atlantic dump cocaine bundles fitted with GPS trackers into the ocean, to later be retrieved by smaller boats and smuggled into the UK through secluded inlets.
What made the investigation stand out was the range of roles uncovered—from a struggling Hampshire fisherman recruited for his maritime skills to a Colombian enforcer ensuring a smooth operation, as well as members of an Essex-based group believed to have purchased the shipment for distribution in southeastern England.
Barry Vinall of the National Crime Agency, the lead investigator, described the seven convicted men as crucial figures. "They included organizers, logistics handlers, security, and buyers," he said.
The breakthrough came unexpectedly. On September 13 last year, the UK Border Force vessel *HMC Valiant* spotted a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) off Cornwall's coast. Aware of a larger vessel in the area, officers pursued as the RHIB fled.
For 28 miles, the three men aboard kept ahead, tossing packages later confirmed as cocaine overboard.
The chase ended on Gwynver Beach near Land’s End, where Peter Williams, 44, Scott Johnston, 38, and Edwin Yahir Tabora Baca, 33, were arrested. Authorities recovered a GPS device, knives, and six of eleven jettisoned cocaine bales, valued at roughly £18 million.
An NCA team quickly mobilized. "We moved fast," Vinall said. "Everyone was involved—we needed to piece together their activities and connections."
Investigators learned that Williams, a fisherman by trade, once operated a small business in Hampshire called *Fresh from the Boat*, supplying seafood to local venues and winning several awards. However, storm damage to his vessel months earlier had left him struggling, possibly leading to his involvement in the smuggling operation.
Read next
"Softball booms in Brazilian city as Cuban migrants surpass Venezuelans for the first time"
Roberto Hernández Tello, 59, originally from Camagüey, Cuba, had hoped to reach the United States for a better future. But due to stricter immigration policies under the previous U.S. administration, he found himself in Curitiba, southern Brazil, thousands of miles from home.
Like him, many Cubans have recently arrived
"Public asked to aid in catching drug gangs using 'mother ships' near UK shores"
Police Ask Coastal Residents to Aid in Combating Drug Smuggling
Authorities have called on residents of coastal areas in the UK to assist in disrupting criminal groups that are employing increasingly creative tactics to bring large amounts of cocaine into the country.
Officials have noted a rise in “at-sea drop-offs”
"Germany's historic largest gay nightclub files for bankruptcy"
Germany’s longest-running and largest LGBTQ+ dance venue has filed for bankruptcy after operating for nearly 50 years, succumbing to financial pressures and shifting trends in Berlin’s nightlife.
Internal challenges and the rise of dating apps contributed to SchwuZ’s difficulties over the past year. In May, the venue