A boat filled with £18million worth of cocaine crashed into a beach after three men were chased for 28 miles at sea by ‘Britain’s FBI’.
Border Force Officers spotted the Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB) on the horizon while carrying out an operation off the coast of Newquay, Cornwall, last September.
They suspected the boat had drugs onboard and tried to intercept the vehicle but as they approached the RHIB, it sped off.
Officers chased after the boat – meanwhile the three men onboard threw packages into the sea – it then reached Gwynver Beach, Penzance, and the men ran off.
Six large containers containing around 230kg of ‘high-purity cocaine’ were recovered from the ocean and the men were caught by Border Force officers who chased them on foot.
Peter Williams, 43, Scott Johnston, 38, and Edwin Yahir Tabora Baca, 33, have been convicted of importing Class A drugs.
The investigation was then referred to National Crime Agency officers, who trawled through CCTV footage, call data and phone messages.
A further four men, who helped plan and organise collection of the cocaine have also been convicted.
The NCA identified that Alex Fowlie, 35, Bobbie Pearce, 29, Michael May, 47, and Terry Willis, 44, helped organise the cocaine pick up.
NCA Senior Investigating Officer, Barry Vinall, said: ‘The NCA leads the UK’s fight to combat the illegal drugs trade, working with partners to protect the public.
‘This cocaine would have caused really significant harm had it made it onto the streets but thanks to vigilant and determined Border Force officers it will be the drugs that are destroyed, not lives.
‘Together, the NCA and Border Force have ensured that seven pivotal drug importers face justice and that organised criminals won’t make the millions in profit they expected to from this haul.’
Fowlie’s role included purchasing the boat, and audio messages retrieved from his phone his arrest revealed he organised further at-sea drug collections just days after his co-conspirators were arrested.
In recordings, Fowlie sent an unidentified contact audio messages advising he could collect up to ‘one tonne’ and claiming that there was ‘zero f*cking risk’.
Pearce, May and Willis’ roles included lying in wait on the Cornish coast where they expected the cocaine to be dropped off to them.
The NCA said all seven men initially denied their crimes.
Tabora Baca claimed to be a tourist who had accepted an invitation from two strangers – Williams and Johnston – to go fishing.
However, officers recovered messages from his phone discussing the group’s plans and sharing a photo of the cocaine onboard the RHIB.
Faced with the evidence against them, five of the men later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import Class A drugs, including Willis who also pleaded guilty to money laundering and possession of firearm, relating to a revolver and ammunition found at his home address by NCA officers.
May and Johnston, who pleaded not guilty, were found guilty of conspiracy to import Class A drugs, following a two-week trial.
Duncan Capps, Senior Director of Border Force Maritime said: ‘It is the job of Border Force to protecting our border and keeping communities safe.
‘Our officers were fantastic and displayed incredible skill during the 28-mile pursuit, despite the suspects’ attempts to get rid of evidence.
‘Border Force will continue to work alongside the NCA to prevent dangerous drugs reaching our streets and will ensure criminals caught smuggling face the full force of the law.’
All seven men have been remanded in custody to be sentenced at Truro Crown Court on August 1, 2025.
