Drug smugglers stopped on a motor cruiser in The English Channel plead guilty at Hampshire Court

Thomas Snell, aged 31, of no fixed abode, and Edward Duggin, 33, of Norris Way, Buntingford, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to conspiring to fraudulently avoid the prohibition on the importation of a controlled drug of Class A - cocaine - contrary to Custom and Excise Act 1979 at Southampton Crown Court on Wednesday.

Justine Romaraog, 22, of Talfourd Way, Redhill, Surrey, pleaded guilty to the same offence at a hearing at the same court yesterday.

The convictions follow an investigation by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU).

UK Border Force boarded an Azimut 50 Motor Cruiser, called Bubble E, which the defendants were travelling on in the English Channel off the coast of Falmouth, Cornwall, on October 14 last year.

An investigation was launched by SEROCU officers, who were assisted by the National Crime Agency, Devon and Cornwall Police, the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit and Hampshire Constabulary.

It uncovered that the defendants had been carrying out a ‘practice-run’ in relation to the collection of packages of drugs.

Traces of white powder, later confirmed to be cocaine, were found on board.

The defendants were arrested and subsequently charged on October 15 in connection with the conspiracy.

Detective Sergeant Dan Hope of SEROCU, said: ‘Snell, Duggin and Romaraog have accepted their parts in this drugs conspiracy by pleading guilty.

‘This follows a complex investigation by officers working for the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit with the support of many law enforcement agencies and maritime experts leading to overwhelming evidence against them.

‘The convictions demonstrate that criminals have absolutely no place to hide – we will continue to use our specialist capabilities to work together with our partners to ensure we tackle the threat that Class A drugs pose to our communities.’

Snell, Duggin and Romaraog were remanded in custody to be sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on a date yet to be set.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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