'Huge' cocaine haul worth £20 million has been seized from a yacht off the Welsh coast

A "huge" haul of cocaine with a potential street value of £20 million has been seized from a yacht off the Welsh coast.

An investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) had identified the yacht as carrying a large drugs shipment to the UK from South America.

Officers boarded the boat approximately half a mile off the Welsh coast on Tuesday.

It was then escorted into Fishguard port where a search uncovered 250kg of cocaine, which the NCA say was intended for sale on UK streets.

Searches continue, and investigators believe there may be another 500kg still to find on board.

Two men, aged 53 and 41, were arrested on the boat and remain in custody for questioning.

Four others - three men aged, 23, 31 and 47 and a woman aged 30 - were arrested in Liverpool and Loughborough. They were later released on bail.

NCA Deputy Director of Investigations, Craig Naylor, said: “This is a substantial seizure of cocaine, which would have generated tens of millions of pounds in criminal profits.

“NCA officers on the front line play a vital role in tackling the serious and organised criminals that undermine the safety and security of our nation.

“These drugs were intended for sale on UK streets, where they will have fuelled considerable violence and exploitation. I’d like to thank all those involved in preventing them from reaching their destination.

“The NCA works with partners in the UK and around the world to target the criminal groups posing the greatest threat to the public.”