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” (ASDOs), where drugs are dumped into the water from larger vessels for smaller boats to collect and transport ashore via secluded inlets.
There are also concerns that criminal networks could adopt more advanced methods, such as underwater devices often referred to as narco submarines, to avoid detection by maritime patrols.
The appeal follows the sentencing of several individuals involved in a failed attempt to smuggle £18m worth of cocaine into the UK using the ASDO technique. The group, convicted at Truro Crown Court in Cornwall, included a struggling fisherman from Hampshire, three men from Essex suspected of intending to distribute the drugs in southeastern England, and a Colombian national believed to be providing security for a South American trafficking organization.
Three of the men were apprehended after a 30-mile chase by maritime authorities, while four others were arrested in a broader investigation led by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Charlie Eastaugh of the maritime enforcement division stated that ASDOs remain a favored method for traffickers. “This is an ongoing challenge,” he said.
Last year, officials intercepted nearly 6.5 tonnes of cocaine—worth an estimated £520m—destined for UK streets via ASDOs. However, far larger quantities still make it through. Reports suggest annual cocaine consumption in England, Wales, and Scotland totals around 117 tonnes.
Eastaugh noted that patrols involve over two dozen vessels, including cutters, rigid-hull inflatable boats, and jetskis, with coordination between police and military units. “Crews spend up to two weeks at a time monitoring territorial waters,” he said.
Yet the rugged coastline in southwestern England provides countless hidden landing points for smugglers.
To strengthen efforts, authorities have launched an outreach program called Project Kraken to improve cooperation with coastal residents and maritime workers.
“Local communities and those working at sea play a crucial role in combating organized crime,” Eastaugh said. “Their vigilance helps extend our reach along the coastline.”
He warned that traffickers will continue to adapt. “As with all criminal activity, tactics will evolve. We may eventually face threats like underwater drones, which have been used elsewhere in smuggling attempts.”
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