The seizure of 1.6 tonnes of cocaine off the coast of Cornwall is one of the largest ever hauls of Class A drugs found in Britain.
Here we look at other recent large drugs busts made by the UK authorities.
- The largest ever haul of drugs seized in Britain happened three years ago when three tonnes of cocaine worth £512 million was hidden onboard on a tug boat that was intercepted off the coast of north-east Scotland.
Turkish sailors Mumin Sahin and Emin Ozmen were later jailed for at least 20 years following a trial.
- In September 2014 just over a tonne of cocaine worth around £200 million was seized from the yacht Makayabella following a joint operation involving the National Crime Agency and Irish Navy. Nine people were later convicted in Ireland, including the intended recipients of the drugs in northern England.
- In August 2015 the UK Border Force intercepted the yacht Golem off the coast of Kent and around 1.2 tonnes of cocaine worth £120 million was found on board. Two crew members were later jailed.
- In 2002 Michael Tyrrell was jailed for 26 years for leading a bungled operation to bring £90 million consignment of cocaine into Britain by yacht.
The cocaine had been brought to the Isle of Wight on a 37ft yacht from the island of Bequia, near St Vincent.
- In 2016 the fishing boat Bianca was intercepted off the coast of Cornwall with almost one tonne of cocaine onboard, worth £80 million.
Fishing boat skipper Michael McDermott was jailed for 16 years while his shipmates David Pleasants and Gerald Van de Kooij were jailed for 14 years and 12 years respectively.
- Earlier this year a gang of eight men were jailed for trying to smuggle £66 million of heroin and cocaine discovered inside a lorry at docks in Hull, which had come from Belgium via Holland.
From Hull the drugs would be distributed across the north of England.
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