Title: High Seas, High Stakes: The Vigilant Fight Against Drug Smuggling by the Border Force
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To counter the growing problem of maritime drug trafficking, the UK Border Force has increased its patrols in British waters. The Lincoln Post has acquired exclusive access to the Valiant, one of the patrol boats of the Border Force, operating in the North Sea off the East Yorkshire coast. Andy Vidamour, who heads the operations for the Border Force Maritime Command, talks about the ever-evolving tactics used by smugglers, which include leaving drug packages from large ships for smaller ones to pick up.
Last year, the Border Force intercepted six such operations, where vessels went out to sea to collect drugs directly from boats that departed from South America. “The frequency of such incidents is increasing and so are our detection and seizure methods,” Mr Vidamour remarks.
In a significant triumph for the Border Force in May 2024, they intercepted a small boat at Easington carrying half a tonne of cocaine worth £42 million. Of the 29 tonnes of cocaine captured throughout the UK last year, a striking 75% was intercepted at sea.
Departing from the Grimsby Docks, the Valiant is both practical and comfortable, equipped with facilities and smaller inflatable boats, essential for intercepting smaller smuggling vessels. The Border Force strongly relies on public vigilance to best position their boats. “We depend on reports of unusual activity,” Mr Vidamour comments, encouraging the public to report suspicious activities like out-of-the-ordinary ship movements at night or unskilled navigation.
The public are urged to report any suspect maritime activity to the Border Force or anonymously via Crimestoppers.
Note: This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
