In a joint operation between Gwent Police Force, Customs and Excise and the National Crime Squad, eight persons were held after the bust unearthed some 120 kilos (265 pounds) of cocaine in the vessel, with a street value of eight to nine million pounds sterling.

Seven men appeared in court yesterday in connection with the cocaine smuggling operation.

According to a source, the cocaine was found with lumber in a container aboard the MV ‘EWL Venezuela’, when the bust was made over the weekend.

The vessel is not registered in Guyana but was utilized by one of the shipping companies here to transport the lumber for a local dealer.

South Wales Argus News, based in South Wales, described it as the biggest drugs haul in the history of Gwent’s Police Force after the raid in Newport.

The newspaper stated that the massive haul was the result of months of painstaking work by Gwent police, Customs and Excise and the National Crime Squad in a joint operation.

South Wales quoted Superintendent Nigel Russell who led the Gwent police operation as saying that, “It was the biggest drugs raid in Gwent’s history and I have to say I am exceptionally impressed by the work of the Custom and Excise.”

Describing the bust on Saturday as the conclusion of three months of intensive work with a series of successful raids, Superintendent had informed the British media, that “The National Crime Squad and Customs and Excise asked for assistance in the arrest phase of a very long operation and we have spent the last three months planning and adapting as circumstances changed.”

He also related that “the drugs were concealed in hardwood shipped from the Caribbean to Felixstown - they were then transported by road to Newport.”

Up to press time it was not possible to ascertain the owner of the consignment.

A spokesman for Customs was quoted as saying: “This joint operation led law enforcement officers from Felixstowe to a warehouse in Newport.”

“The cocaine arrived at Felixstowe on May 29, and was concealed in a consignment of lumber that had arrived from Guyana,” the customs officer stated.

Last Saturday, officers swooped in on a warehouse off Corporation Road and made three arrests. Eight others were arrested in raids at other Newport addresses.

They appeared at Caarphilly magistrates yesterday.

According to the press association seven of the men appeared in court yesterday in connection with the alleged cocaine smuggling operation. Customs and Excise disclosed that the men, charged with attempting to import cocaine into the U.K., were remanded in custody to appear at the same court on June 16.

Most have addresses in the United Kingdom, while one hails from Jamaica.

This is a third international embarrassment for the nation within the past four weeks.

Wednesday, May 4, 2003, former Guyanese beauty queen Mia Rahaman was nabbed by Canadian Customs officials at Pearson International Airport with 7.5 kilos of cocaine concealed in one of her suitcases and cosmetics.

Miss Rahaman had to surrender her passport to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The cocaine has a street value of CDN$1M. She was released on $25,000 bail.

In another embarrassing fiasco, seventy five pounds of “cannabis savita” (marijuana) was discovered aboard the Army’s flagship GDFS Essequibo after it docked in Barbados for participation in Exercise Trade Winds.