COCAINE FOUND ON SHIP SEIZED BY NAVY

A HURRICANE was hampering the search last night of a ship seized in
the Caribbean by the Royal Navy and found to be carrying a huge haul
of cocaine, possibly destined for Britain.

Members of the crew of HMS Northumberland, based in Devonport, have
helped the US Coast Guard to find more than two tonnes of cocaine
worth pounds 135 million on the vessel north of Venezuela. The warship
stopped and searched the boat after tracking it for more than seven
hours.

The search of the Panamanian-registered MV Adriatik lasted for 50
hours before the boat was escorted to the US Virgin Islands for
inspection by American coastguards. The haul was found hidden in bales
under the ship's 800-tonne cargo of sugar cane, but the search was
interrupted because of a hurricane warning.

Commander Mike Pearey, HMS Northumberland's commanding officer, said:
"We expect them to find more cocaine. There may be a substantial
amount still to come."

HMS Northumberland left Plymouth in June and is on patrol in the West
Indies, where she has been sent to support counter-drugs operations.
Commander Pearey, who said his ship's 184-strong company was on
standby to assist in any disaster relief effort in the wake of
Hurricane Lenny, added: "It was our first really big haul and we're
absolutely delighted."