HIGH-SPEED BOATS 'SOLD TO DRUG COURIERS'

A Couple who ran a Suffolk boatbuilding business and had more than ?1
million stashed at their home had been supplying boats to
international drugs smugglers, a court has heard.

Richard Davison and Ellen George, of Colville Road, Lowestoft, ran
Crompton Marine at Lowestoft where they built powerful inflatable boats.

It is alleged the radar-evading boats - which could carry massive
loads of cannabis and still outrun the authorities - would be sold and
transported to southern Europe where they would be used by drug smugglers.

The details emerged at Ipswich Crown Court yesterdayin the trial of
43-year-old Ian Rush, of Brand End Road, Butterwick,
Lincolnshire.

Rush was friends with Davison and George and worked at Crompton Marine
initially as a transport driver, the court was told.

He has denied two charges of conspiracy to assist another person to
retain the benefits of drug trafficking and conspiracy to acquire
criminal property.

Davison and George were arrested on March 25, 2004 as part of a joint
Anglo-Spanish criminal investigation into suspected money laundering
offences.

A search at the couple's Lowestoft home found more than ?1.25 million
in cash held in a safe and a holdall as well as false documents. A
search of Davison's address in Spain revealed the existence of 500,000
in euros and ?49,000 in cash.

It is alleged that between 1998 and the couple's arrest on March 25,
2004 he transported boats to southern Europe, often Spain, knowing
that the purchaser of the boats wanted them to run drugs and other
contraband from the north coast of Africa to the southern coast of
Spain.

It is also alleged that following Davison's and George's arrest, Rush
set up a new company called Nautexco Marine to continue selling boats
to the drug smugglers.

Simon Draycott QC told the jury: "Rush, Davison and George knew full
well that the purchasers of these boats wanted them for one reason
only and that was to run drugs and other contraband from the north
coast of Africa to the southern coast of Spain.

"These types of boats were in great demand by drug smugglers. They
could outrun any Spanish police boat, they were difficult to detect on
radar and they could carry substantial amounts of drugs."

The jury was also read an email which was sent by George in 2002 which
read: "We specialise in very high speed, uncatchable craft that have
an extremely low radar signature, that work between North Africa and
Spain."

In 2006, George admitted money laundering and possession of around ?1m
in criminal proceeds.

Davison is currently on bail in Spain which prevents him from leaving
the country, with investigations against him continuing, the court
heard.

The trial of Rush continues today.