A major international drug smuggling plot centred on waters off the Isle of Wight has resulted in the conviction of 11 offenders after a 500kg shipment of cocaine, worth an estimated £40million, was recovered following a failed overnight operation south of The Needles.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) says the drugs were dropped into the English Channel around 40 nautical miles south of The Needles, to the west of the Isle of Wight, by an accomplice crew aboard a container ship.
The plan saw David Paterson, 49, sail from Haslar Marina in Portsmouth into international waters during the early hours of 17th August 2024 aboard the rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) Amma Sigga to recover the consignment.
Each waterproof bale of cocaine had been fitted with a GPS tracker, allowing the organised crime group to locate the packages after they had been thrown into the sea.
However, the operation quickly unravelled when the container ship sailed past Paterson before the drugs could be recovered.
Taking instructions over WhatsApp from accomplice Lewis Watts, who was ashore, Paterson was told: “Big ship has passed you, flash lights.”
As the situation became increasingly desperate, Watts added: “Big ship has passed you, chase it and flash lights.”
The gang’s problems worsened when the GPS trackers stopped transmitting, leaving Paterson unable to locate the cocaine. After several hours searching the waters south of the Isle of Wight, he returned to shore empty-handed and took no further part in the conspiracy.
The following morning, the trackers began working again and the organised crime group rapidly assembled a second crew.
On 19th August, Adil Nolan left Eastbourne Harbour aboard the Amma Sigga with 2 other men and successfully recovered 16 bales of cocaine, each with a purity of around 85%.
The vessel then headed to Medmerry Beach near Selsey in West Sussex, where law enforcement officers were waiting and seized the drugs.
A total of 7 members of the organised crime group had already admitted their roles before the trial.
Now, following proceedings at Portsmouth Crown Court, 3 men and 1 woman have also been convicted.
The operation was led by Daniel Jamieson, 41, and Sam Brown, 33. Jamieson, posing as a legitimate businessman, purchased a maritime business under a false identity to obtain the RHIB used in the operation.
Lewis Watts acted as Jamieson’s right-hand man, organising equipment, funding and communications, while Adil Nolan skippered the successful recovery mission. David Paterson was convicted for his role in the failed first attempt.
Charlotte Blenman was convicted of assisting an organised crime group after being identified as part of the landing party waiting to move the drugs ashore in West Sussex. Four other members of that landing party had already admitted the same offence.
Those convicted of conspiring to smuggle cocaine will be sentenced on 5th November, while those convicted of assisting an organised crime group will be sentenced on 6th November.
Jules Harriman, NCA senior investigating officer, has said:
“This was a large seizure of cocaine and represents a serious loss for the crime group.
“Their profits can no longer be ploughed back into further offending and we’ve prevented these toxic drugs from reaching UK streets where they poison people’s lives.
“Working with partners such as Border Force, the NCA will continue to do all it can to protect the public from the threat of Class A drugs.”
The NCA has thanked Merseyside Police, West Mercia Police, Hampshire Police and Sussex Police for their assistance.
