Britain's 'biggest drugs bust' brings in cocaine haul valued at more than £500m

More than three tonnes of cocaine was recovered from a ship around 11 miles east of Aberdeen

More than three tonnes of cocaine was recovered from a ship around 11 miles east of Aberdeen (PA)

Cocaine which could be worth more than £500 million has been recovered from a ship intercepted at sea, in what is believed to be the UK's largest ever drugs bust.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed more than three tonnes of the drug was recovered from the MV Hamal around 11 miles east of Aberdeen last week in a joint operation involving the Border Force and Royal Navy.

Royal Navy frigate HMS Somerset and Border Force cutter Valiant intercepted the MV Hamal in the North Sea after acting on NCA intelligence.

The ship was then taken to Aberdeen harbour, where Border Force officers with "specialist deep rummage skills" carried out a search supported by Police Scotland.

More than three tonnes of cocaine has been recovered from the ocean going tug intercepted following a joint NCA, Border Force and Royal Navy operation in the North Sea (EPA/NCA)

The NCA said that the cocaine had an estimated total weight in excess of three tonnes which, if cut and sold in the UK, could have had a likely potential street value of more than £500 million, depending on its purity.

John McGowan, senior investigating officer for the NCA, said: "The search of this vessel has been lengthy and painstaking, undertaken by hugely-skilled specialists working in difficult conditions.

"The result is this massive discovery - believed to be the biggest single class A drug seizure on record in the UK and likely to be worth several hundred million pounds."

The nine-man crew of the Hamal - all Turkish nationals aged between 26 and 63 - have been charged with drugs offences.

Mustafa Ceviz, 54, Ibrahim Dag, 47, Mumin Sahin, 45, Muhammet Seckin, 26, Umit Colakel, 38, Kayacan Dalgakiran, 63 and Emin Ozmen, 50, all from Istanbul, were all charged with possession of a controlled drug.

(NCA/EPA)

Abdulkadir Cirik, 31, from Mersin, and Mustafa Guven, 47, from Yozgat, also faced the same charge.

None of the men made any plea or declaration and all have been remanded in custody until their appearance in court next week.

The news follows a report from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in March which revealed that use of cocaine in Britain has trebled over the last two decades and is growing in popularity among all age groups.

Additional reporting by PA