Dramatic coastal drug smuggling attempt foiled with $48 million cocaine haul

This is the dramatic moment two drug smugglers are caught in a failed attempt to plan a vacation to the coast. They are caught with cocaine worth $48 million.

Bruce Knowles (55) and Ferhat Gumrukguoglu (31) were intercepted by Border Force near East Benacre Broads in Suffolk with 350kg of cocaine in the hull of their boat.

Shocking footage released by the National Crime Agency (NCA) shows Gumrukguoglu, from the Netherlands, jumping from the boat and swimming to shore.

The pair initially stopped as the Border Force cutter approached, but Knowles restarted the inflatable boat’s engines and attempted to flee.

The boat was towed to a port in Lowestoft, where it was searched by NCA officers, who found the $50 million worth of drugs under a tarpaulin. NATIONAL CRIME AGENCY VIA SWNS

The boat ran aground on the beach and officers arrived to arrest Knowles, who also jumped overboard in an attempt to escape during the June 24 incident.

Officers from Norfolk and Suffolk Police pursued Gumrukguoglu after he fled the beach. He was arrested later that day in Wrentham, Norfolk.

The boat was towed to a port in Lowestoft, where it was searched by NCA officers, who found the $50 million haul of drugs hidden under a tarpaulin.

Investigators believe Knowles, from Dereham, and Gumrukguoglu, from the Netherlands, travelled to French waters to collect the drugs from a larger vessel, then return them to the UK.

Both men were questioned and made no comment, but were charged with importing a prohibited drug.

On August 20, they pleaded guilty to the offence at Ipswich Crown Court.

The smugglers attempt to flee with 350 kilos of cocaine in their boat. NATIONAL CRIME OFFICE VIA SWNS

Lydia Bloomfield, NCA Branch Commander, said: “Knowles and Gumrukguoglu knew they were losing a huge quantity of drugs when they were intercepted at sea by our Border Force colleagues.

“Both worked for a wider organised crime group, which will now feel the consequences of a loss of this amount.”

Sally Hawkyard, deputy director of Border Force, said: “Our Border Force officers played a vital role in detecting and seizing millions of pounds worth of cocaine, enabling these two men to be brought to justice.

“We remain committed to preventing illegal drugs from entering the country, where they destroy lives and fuel organised crime gangs.

“Border security will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safety of the public and our borders.”

Produced in collaboration with SWNS Talker