Four men arrested after 400kg of cocaine found on fishing boat

Four men have been arrested after 400kg of cocaine was found on a fishing boat off the Kent coast.

Three of the men, who are64, 45 and 25 years old, were arrested on the boat this morning on suspicion of importing class A drugs, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA).

A fourth, aged 36, was detained in Rainham, east London.

A NCA spokesman said: ‘NCA officers have arrested four men and seized approximately 400kg (880lbs) of cocaine after a fishing boat was stopped at sea off the Kent coast.

‘Border Force officers intercepted the vessel on Sunday morning and located the drugs haul.

‘Three men on board, aged 64, 45 and 25, were arrested on suspicion of importing class A drugs and conveyed to police custody to be questioned by NCA investigators.

‘A fourth man aged 36 was arrested in Rainham, east London.’

NCA operations manager Jules Harriman said: ‘This amount of cocaine will represent a significant loss for the organised crime group that attempted to import it into the UK.

‘With our partners at Border Force and the Joint Maritime Security Centre (JMSC) we have successfully removed this harmful drug consignment from the criminal marketplace.

‘Our investigation into this importation continues.’

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