South American drug gangs have been employing a new strategy of dropping large quantities of cocaine worth millions of pounds into the sea around Wales, posing a significant and persistent threat, according to law enforcement agencies. This method, known as an At-Sea-Drop-Off (ASDO), involves dumping waterproof packages of cocaine from a “mother” ship near British territorial waters for smaller “daughter” boats to collect and transport ashore. The Border Force highlighted this tactic following the recent arrest of two individuals from Swansea attempting to smuggle £100 million worth of drugs into Britain on a fishing boat under the guise of shark fishing.
Jon Williams and Patrick Godfrey were apprehended by Border Force officers off Newquay in Cornwall while onboard their fishing vessel, the Lily Lola, which was carrying over a thousand one-kilo packages of cocaine. The operation exposed the intricate coordination between the South American drug suppliers and local contacts in the UK, orchestrated through satellite trackers, GPS data, and communication devices. Despite efforts to miss some of the packages during collection, the perpetrators were ultimately caught and convicted, shedding light on this ongoing illicit activity.
The National Crime Agency had been monitoring the gang and their activities closely, managing to covertly install tracking devices and eavesdrop on conversations within the fishing boat. The successful interception of the Lily Lola and the subsequent arrests led to the conviction of Williams and Godfrey, along with two other individuals involved in the smuggling operation. The court proceedings revealed the elaborate measures taken by drug traffickers to evade detection and distribute narcotics along the British coast.
The sentencing of the four defendants is scheduled for May 8, marking a significant crackdown on drug trafficking networks that exploit the maritime routes for smuggling purposes. Over the years, instances of drug packages washing up on UK shores, including Wales, have pointed to the extent of this illegal trade and the challenges faced by authorities in curbing such activities. The recent incident in which cocaine packages worth around £42 million were discovered at Tan-y-Bwlch near Aberystwyth serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by drug trafficking operations in the region.
Law enforcement agencies have emphasised their vigilance and capability to identify, track, and prosecute individuals involved in drug smuggling activities, such as ASDOs. The collaborative efforts between various agencies, including the Border Force and the National Crime Agency, have been instrumental in disrupting these criminal networks and preventing large quantities of illicit substances from reaching the streets. As investigations continue and sentencing approaches, the authorities remain committed to safeguarding coastal areas and countering the organised crime networks behind such smuggling operations.
The prevalence of drug trafficking activities in the waters surrounding Wales underscores the need for continued vigilance and enforcement actions to combat this persistent threat. By staying proactive and leveraging technological advancements in surveillance and interception, law enforcement agencies aim to dismantle these criminal enterprises and prevent the influx of drugs into the country. The upcoming sentencing of the individuals involved in the recent smuggling attempt marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks and safeguard coastal communities from the detrimental impact of such illicit activities.