Prince William's ship makes major cocaine bust
The British Royal Navy ship on which Prince William is serving made a major cocaine bust in the north Atlantic, Britain's defense ministry said Wednesday.
The prince helped his crew mates on HMS Iron Duke intercept a speedboat northeast of Barbados on Saturday. He was aboard a helicopter attached to the frigate that spotted a speedboat and grew suspicious that such a small vessel should be so far from land, the ministry said.
The helicopter crew informed the ship's commanding officer, and the ship gave chase.
U.S. Coast Guard officials working on the frigate boarded the speedboat and found 45 bales of cocaine weighing 1,900 pounds, the ministry said.
"He was in the helicopter on Saturday morning when the search was conducted," Commanding Officer Mark Newland told Sky News. "He was able to provide surveillance to the team. He's a professional navy officer, he understands the context we're operating in so he's able to help in every way."
The Ministry of Defense said the drugs had an estimated street value of $80 million. Five men were detained and the speedboat later sank.
The ministry said William, known in the navy as Sub-Lieutenant Wales, is spending five weeks at sea as part of a plan to have him experience all the branches of the British armed forces. He is already a junior officer in the army and has earned his wings in the Royal Air Force.
Newland said he had been ordered to involve the prince in all operations.
The Iron Duke began hurricane relief and counter-narcotics duties in the Atlantic last week and is due to remain in the area until October.
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