From pirates to smugglers: HMS Cumberland strikes a ‘just blow'

HMS Cumberland has again lived up to her motto ‘Justitia Tenax – Tenacious of Justice’ by returning to the Gulf region and seizing 12.4 tonnes of cannabis resin being smuggled in a dhow. Patrolling the so called ‘Hash Highway’, as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, she successfully intercepted this, her first seizure of narcotics this deployment.

Cumberland and coalition forces had been covertly tracking a small cargo dhow over night, operating along the shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden. At first light the ship launched both of her Pacific 24 sea boats into high seas, with a Royal Marine boarding team, to investigate the dhow’s intent. With Cumberland’s gun crews providing guard, the heavily armed boats made their way through difficult waters towards the dhow.

Following a brief exchange of words between the dhow and ship, the sea boats approached the cargo vessel, which was also moving significantly in the high sea state, to take it under control and board with specially trained Royal Navy personnel to conduct formal State verification and ensure that her official documentation was in order. During these checks a number of factors made the Navy team suspicious, which led to the decision for an in-depth search of the boat. It was during this search that a secret compartment was found, containing large bales of narcotic material, later identified as cannabis resin and sufficient to make over 35 million ‘spliffs’ (verified with SOCA) .

Petty Officer Marine Engineering Mechanic Jan Dash, of the Royal Navy boarding team from HMS Cumberland, said after the boarding:

“We discovered this consignment of hashish in a concealed compartment. We’re well trained for this kind of operation, but you don’t expect to find this quantity. Twelve tonnes is a huge amount of drugs and looked like bags of potatoes piled up when we got it on deck. This is our first boarding of the deployment, hopefully the rest of our time in the region will be just as successful and we’ll stop more drugs getting onto the streets.”

Royal Marines Captain Gareth Tennant, the Officer Commanding the Royal Marines embarked in HMS Cumberland said:

“The joint team of Royal Marines and Naval personnel boarded the dhow and safely secured its crew before searching the vessel and making what may be the largest single quantity of drugs discovered in this region. It is certainly the largest quantity I have seen during the boarding operations I have conducted in this region.”

On completion of the operation the resin was destroyed and Cumberland now continues her patrol in the Gulf of Aden.
Captain David Dutton OBE, the Captain of HMS Cumberland, said after the operation:
“This is a significant success for HMS Cumberland and the Coalition Forces. The interception of such a large quantity of hashish before it reached its potential destination in the UK or Europe is unquantifiable. The clear message is that the Royal Navy is here, ready and able to stop the proceeds of smuggling reaching terrorists and insurgents trying to expand their fanatical activities.”

Minister of the Armed Forces, Mr Bill Rammell MP said:
"This seizure has prevented a significant quantity of illegal drugs making it onto the streets and poisoning communities, wherever it was destined. The Royal Navy has yet again demonstrated its commitment to fighting the evil trade in narcotics and its devastating effects."

The Combined Maritime Force Commander stated:
“The seizure of these drugs takes money out of the hands of those financing terrorists throughout the region,” said Vice Adm. Bill Gortney, Commander, Combined Maritime Forces. “The smugglers need to know that Coalition forces are patrolling the seas and skies above. These efforts send a message to all would-be smugglers that we are here and we won’t tolerate drug trafficking in international waters.”

(Home Office) Government launches consultation on communications data and rules out single store

New measures to maintain the capability of public authorities to obtain access to communications data were announced by the Home Secretary today. The existing capability is declining in the face of rapid technological changes in the communications industry.

Publishing the consultation - 'Protecting the public in a changing communications environment' - the government explicitly rules out setting up a single store of all communications data.

Communications data is the "who, when, where and how" information from mobile phone calls, texts, emails and instant messages, but is not the content. The use of communication data is an important capability that is used by the police and other agencies here and around the world to protect the public and fight crime.

It can be used to prevent terrorism and serious crime, as well as to provide vital evidence at trial. It played an essential part in solving the cases and bringing to justice:
* The bomber who survived his attack on Glasgow Airport and who was also responsible for the attempted bombing of Haymarket;
* Ian Huntley, following the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman;
* A gang responsible for the kidnap of Seven Chinese nationals smuggled into the UK;
* Philip Thompson, the 'librarian' who ran an international paedophile website; and
* Sean Mercer, following the murder of schoolboy Rhys Jones.

The consultation outlines ways to collect and retain communications data and seeks views on how to strike the right balance between privacy and security. The system the government is proposing is based on the current model where Communications Service Providers (CSPs) collect and store the data and where we have strict and effective safeguards in place to regulate access by public authorities.

The Government proposes:
* Legislating to allow all data that public authorities might need, including third party data (data generated by communications services based overseas but crossing the networks in the UK) to be collected and retained by CSPs; and
* Having CSPs process the data to enable specific requests by public authorities - such as the police and Security Service - to be processed quickly and comprehensively.

Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary said:

"My key priority is to protect the citizens of the UK and communications data is an essential tool for law enforcement agencies to track murderers and paedophiles, save lives and tackle crime.

"Advances in communications mean that there are ever more sophisticated ways to communicate and we need to ensure that we keep up with the technology being used by those who would seek to do us harm.

"It is essential that the police and other crime fighting agencies have the tools they need to do their job. However, to be clear there are absolutely no plans for a single central store.

"We recognise that there is a delicate balance between privacy and security, but to do nothing is not an option as we would be failing in our duty to protect the public."

Temporary Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service Janet Williams, said:

"I can't stress enough how integral to our investigations communications data is. Traditionally the types of data available for analysis were relatively limited but with the communication revolution creating multiple new formats the challenge for us is that current legislation hasn't kept pace.

"Its continued availability is essential for us to ensure that criminals are not able to gain the advantage. It allows us to save lives, establish how co-conspirators are linked and develop leads. From both an investigative and prosecution perspective it is crucial in helping us get to the truth. Without it I believe it would seriously impede our ability to successfully investigate a range of crimes and keep the public safe."
Sir Stephen Lander, Chair of the Serious Organised Crime Agency, said:

"Communications data and intercept intelligence are essential tools in 95 per cent of the most serious crime investigations in the UK.

"Any significant reduction in the capability of law enforcement agencies to obtain and use this information would lead to more unsolved murders, more firearms on our streets, more successful robberies, more unresolved kidnaps, more harm from the use of Class A drugs, more illegal immigration and more unsolved serious crime overall."

(SOCA) UK's first extradition from Colombia

The first Colombian national to be extradited from his home country to face trial in the UK arrived at Heathrow yesterday afternoon.

The unnamed man was escorted by officers from the Serious Organised Crime Agency who had flown to Colombia to take him into custody. He was charged at Heathrow Police Station with eleven offences of money laundering linked to drug supply in the UK and will appear at a central London court today. The case will be prosecuted by the Organised Crime Division of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

This is believed to be the first time the UK's extradition treaty with Colombia, which was signed in 1888, has been used. The development follows close working between SOCA, the Colombian authorities, and the CPS, which submitted and prepared the extradition documentation.

Director General of SOCA Bill Hughes said the move marks a noteworthy development in the fight against the illegal cocaine trade.

"This extradition has been possible thanks to a new level of joint working with the authorities in Colombia, for which we thank them," he said.

"The cocaine trade devastates communities here and in Colombia, and supports other criminal activity. SOCA is working on many levels to undermine that trade and put the UK drugs market under stress. Together with partners we are intercepting more drugs before they can reach the UK. We are targeting the producers of cutting agents - the chemical cocktails that adulterate street level drugs and increase profits but also risks to the health of users. We are supporting the authorities in producer countries to help frustrate drug production, and our forensic analysis is helping identify and break up distribution networks in the UK.

"This first extradition marks a significant step forward for the UK and Colombia. Together we are squeezing the traffickers from both ends of the chain. The message to criminals is that targeting the UK is a high risk business and will not be tolerated."