FIVE GUILTY AS CUSTOMS AND NATIONAL CRIME SQUAD FOIL A #90 MILLION ATTEMPT TO LAND COCAINE ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT

13 Feb 2002 07:11 PM

Four men were found guilty today and one man pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court after Customs Law Enforcement and National Crime Squad officers stopped a sophisticated plan to smuggle 400 kgs of cocaine by yacht to the Isle of Wight from the southern Caribbean island of Bequia.

The defendants were arrested in the early hours of the morning on 23 October 2000 following an intensive three-month joint surveillance operation by Customs and NCS on the principal Michael Tyrrell. In December 1999, Tyrrell purchased Orchard Bay House near Ventnor on the Isle of Wight. This is one of the only properties in the country to have a private beach and was purchased by Tyrrell with the intention of using it to land the drugs.

The operation code-named ''Eyefull'' culminated as officers awaited the arrival of the yacht ''Blue Hen'' from the Caribbean. Ironically after over a 3000 mile, 32-day Atlantic crossing the operation took an unexpected twist. The yacht crew launched their inflatable dinghy off St Catherine''s Point with the drugs on board but the engine failed. Adverse weather conditions and strong tidal currents forced the inflatable 1 mile from its destination to land at the remote beach of Woody Bay.

As customs and police watched, the smugglers made desperate attempts to haul the consignment along the treacherous cliff path to Tyrrell''s home. However Customs and police struck seizing 400 kilos of cocaine worth up to #90 million, one of the largest hauls of cocaine in recent years. The investigation spanned over 14 different countries, including Europe, America and the Caribbean, helping to smash this international drugs organisation.

Customs Minister Paul Boateng said:

''This is an excellent result for Customs and the National Crime Squad and demonstrates that by working abroad as well as at home, we can have a huge impact on Class A drugs in the UK. Customs Law Enforcement has totally dismantled a sophisticated international drug trafficking organisation. These criminals enjoyed wealthy lifestyles with big houses, plush cars and fast boats. We will make every effort to pursue not only the criminals and the drugs but their profits too and hit the criminals where it hurts them most - their pockets.''

Jim Fitzpatrick, Customs Deputy Chief Investigator, said:

''I am delighted that the efforts of our two law enforcement agencies have produced a successful outcome.''

Detective Inspector Dave King from the National Crime Squad added:

''This result is a reflection of the successes which can be achieved by law enforcement working together. Many months of hard work have been recognised with these convictions/sentences''.

Michael Tyrrell, (54), was found guilty.

Robert Kavanagh, (55), American resident of St Barthelemy, French West Indies, was found guilty.

Didier Andre Lebrun, (48), A French national from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was found guilty.

Laurent Penchef, (32), A French national living in the Caribbean, was found guilty.

German Henao, (48), A Colombian, pleaded guilty.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Cocaine is a Class A Drug.

2. The maximum penalty for smuggling Class A Drugs is life imprisonment.

3. Customs has the lead responsibility for reducing the availability of class A drugs as part of The Government''s Drugs Strategy.