A boat carrying a tonne of cocaine has been intercepted off the coast of Cornwall. 

National Crime Agency (NCA) officers have arrested four men and seized approximately one tonne of cocaine after a fishing boat was stopped at sea off the coast of Newquay.

Border Force officers intercepted the vessel on Friday afternoon (September 13) and located the drugs haul.

The fishing boat stopped by Border Force (Image: National Crime Agency) The four men on board were arrested on suspicion of importing class A drugs and conveyed to police custody to be questioned by NCA investigators.

Derek Evans, NCA branch commander, said: “This is a significant amount of cocaine that will represent a huge loss for the organised crime group that attempted to import it into the UK.

“With our partners at Border Force and the Joint Maritime Security Centre, we have successfully removed this harmful drug consignment from the criminal marketplace.

Approximately one tonne of cocaine was discovered (Image: National Crime Agency) “Its onward supply would have fuelled exploitation through county lines activity as well as serious violence and knife crime.

“Our investigation into this importation continues.”

  • Four men have now been charged with drugs offences today (Saturday, September 14). Michael Kelly, aged 45 of Portway, Manchester; Jon Paul Williams, aged 46, of St Thomas, Swansea; Patrick Godfrey, aged 30, of Danygraig Road in Port Tennant, Swansea; and Jake Marchant, aged 26, of no fixed address, were all charged with importation of a controlled Class A drug. All four men have been remanded in custody, to appear at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court on  Monday, September 16.