Two tonnes of cocaine worth £160m seized off Plymouth by National Crime Agency

The men – one Briton from Stockton on Tees, County Durham, and five Nicaraguans – were arrested on Thursday evening, 80 miles off the Plymouth mainland, in an operation led by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and supported by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Border Force.

The suspects were aboard a luxury Jamaican-flagged yacht sailing from the Caribbean. It was escorted back to the UK mainland where a team carried out a deep rummage search and discovered the enormous haul of Class A.

The men, whose ages range from 24 to 49, were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking and are in custody awaiting interview.

A suspect is arrested from the yacht Picture: National Crime Agency

The NCA said the arrests demonstrated the strength of its international partnerships, working with the Australian Federal Police, who as part of the operation used evidence from their Operation Ironside – the country’s investigation into the AnOm encrypted communications platform.

Matt Horne, NCA deputy director, said: “This is a massive haul of cocaine with an estimated street value of around £160m.

The drugs are worth £160 million Picture: National Crime Agency

“There’s no doubt these drugs would have been sold on into communities across the UK in such ways as County Lines, fuelling more crime and misery.

“Organised crime groups are motivated by money. The deprivation of these drugs will smash a hole in the group's plans and ability to operate.

The drugs were initially found in black waterproof bags Picture: National Crime Agency

“We continue to work with partners at home such as Border Force and those abroad such as the AFP to protect the public from the Class A drugs threat.”

Assistant Commissioner Lesa Gale, from the Australian team, said: “Intelligence from Operation Ironside had enabled the AFP to assist international enforcement partners in disrupting an alleged sophisticated criminal network.

The National Crime Agency worked with the Australian Federal Police and Border Force Picture: National Crime Agency

“Operation Ironside has opened the door to unprecedented collaboration across law enforcement agencies around the globe.

“This result highlights the importance of the AFP’s partnership with the NCA to combat offshore transnational organised crime that impacts both of our countries.

“The AFP and NCA have a strong, historic relationship and both agencies recognise the significant threat to national security posed by transnational organised crime.”