UK Border Agency cutters HMC Valiant and HMC Searcher intercepted the Dutch-registered yacht MV Majestic in UK waters in the early hours of Sunday 24 July 2011 after tracking it from the Falmouth area along the Channel.[1][2] The yacht was escorted into Newhaven harbour, where officers found packages of cannabis hidden in an adapted space in the hull, reached through two deck hatches.[1][2] The agency put the haul at approximately four tonnes with an estimated street value of about £12 million, and four men were charged with the importation of controlled drugs.[1]
On 14 October 2011 the four were jailed for a total of 33 years: Al Turner received nine-and-a-half years, Mark Timothy nine-and-a-half years, Johan Bouma nine-and-a-half years and Franciscus De Geus five years.[2] The agency’s Malcolm Bragg said the seizure showed how its efforts stopped drugs reaching Britain even before they reached the mainland.[2]
