South American drug cartels are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to flood the UK with cocaine, including dropping waterproof packages into the sea equipped with flotation devices and GPS trackers for retrieval by UK-based smugglers.
According to Border Force officials, this at-sea drop-off (ASDO) method represents a serious and growing threat, with tens of millions of pounds worth of cocaine entering the country undetected.
Packages are launched from 'mother ships' operated by cartels in South America, who coordinate with UK gangs via satellite phones.
Once in British waters, the drugs are thrown overboard, where smaller 'daughter boats' collect the floating parcels and transport them to shore.
Border Force maritime director Charlie Eastaugh confirmed that multiple tonnes of cocaine have been intercepted in recent years using this tactic.
Last week, Truro Crown Court heard the case of four British men who were caught retrieving a tonne of cocaine worth £100 million off the coast of the Isles of Scilly in September.
Their boat, the Lily Lola, was intercepted before they could return to shore.
The operation was orchestrated by a South American gang, and all four men are now awaiting sentencing in May.
In response to this rising threat, Border Force has ramped up efforts, deploying cutter units and highly trained sniffer dogs.
One dog named Flash recently discovered £50 million worth of cocaine hidden in banana containers aboard a ship from South America.
The drugs were tightly packed in 30kg blocks with inflatable life jackets, designed to float for retrieval.
The UK has witnessed several similar incidents: in October 2023, parcels of cocaine washed ashore on the Isle of Wight; bags were found in Dorset’s Durdle Door and West Sussex’s Goring; and in June 2024, an inflatable boat carrying cocaine retrieved from a mother ship was intercepted off Suffolk.
Two men attempted to escape by diving into the sea but were apprehended.
Experts warn that the economic model of cocaine trafficking allows for high losses.
Professor Adam Winstock, an addiction medicine specialist, says the drug’s street price and purity have remained stable despite inflation, meaning traffickers can afford to lose up to 20% of shipments and still profit immensely.
Despite record seizures in 2024, cocaine-related deaths in the UK have reached a 30-year high, with 1,118 deaths recorded in 2023—ten times higher than in 2011.
Derek Evans from the National Crime Agency (NCA), who led the investigation into the Lily Lola case, urged members of the fishing and maritime community to remain vigilant: "If a criminal group approaches you, inform the police.
Think twice before getting involved.
The risks may seem hidden, but the consequences are very real.".