Five held after cocaine seized in Channel

Five men have been arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling after a catamaran was seized in the English Channel and a “significant quantity of cocaine” found yesterday morning.

The National Crime Agency said the Border Force cutter HMC Vigilant intercepted the vessel off the southwest coast of Cornwall and escorted it to Newlyn harbour.

The haul comes six weeks after hundreds of parcels stuffed with drugs were discovered on a yacht taken into the same port.

“The investigation is ongoing and a significant quantity of cocaine has been removed from the boat,” a spokesman for the NCA said.