Two men from Swansea have denied being part of a gang that allegedly attempted to smuggle almost a tonne of cocaine, worth about £200 million, into the UK. Jon Paul Williams and Patrick Godfrey, along with two other individuals, were arrested after Border Force officers intercepted a fishing boat off the Cornish coast on September 13. The vessel, named Lily Lola and registered in Torbay, was found to be carrying the Class A drug. The National Crime Agency reported the seizure and subsequent charges. Jon Paul Williams, aged 46, from St Thomas, Swansea; Patrick Godfrey, aged 30, from Port Tennant, Swansea; Michael Kelly, aged 45, from Portway, Manchester; and Jake Marchant, aged 26, with no fixed address, all pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to import a controlled Class A drug when they appeared at Truro Crown Court. A trial date has been set for March 3 next year with a pre-trial review scheduled for February.
The fishing vessel Lily Lola, intercepted by Border Force officers, had almost a tonne of cocaine worth around £200 million on board, according to the National Crime Agency. The men involved in the incident, including two from Swansea, have denied the allegations and are awaiting trial.
If you’d like to stay updated on breaking news and top stories in Wales, you can join the WalesOnline WhatsApp community. By clicking on the provided link and selecting ‘Join Community’, you can receive daily updates without being spammed.
In other news, recent incidents on the M4 caused delays this morning, and there were tragic reports of a motorway crash resulting in multiple fatalities. Additionally, a former chief executive has been convicted of stealing funds from a Welsh charity, and the ongoing issue of homelessness in the UK has seen a concerning rise in deaths.
For all the latest updates on these stories and more, visit WalesOnline for breaking news, weather updates, and in-depth coverage of current events in Wales and beyond. Subscribe to our newsletters to stay informed on the latest developments across the region.