Two Scots charged after attempt to smuggle £34m of cocaine by fishing boat into the UK

Two Scots are among five men who have been charged over a plot to smuggle £34m of cocaine into the UK.

National Crime Agency officers seized 425kg of the Class A drug after it was brought into Eastbourne Marina in East Sussex on the New Horizon fishing vessel via the English Channel on Monday afternoon.

The NCA says five men, including two Scots, appeared at Brighton and Hove Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

Alan John Colquhoun, 49, of Alloa, Clackmannanshire, and William Donohoe, 38, of Craigneuk, Airdrie, were charged along with three others with conspiring to fraudulently evade a prohibition on the importation of a Class A drug.

All five men have been remanded to appear at Lewes Crown Court on July 8.

Fishing vessel New Horizon National Crime Agency

Carl Barrass, NCA senior investigating officer, said: “The recovery of this quantity of cocaine represents a significant loss to the organised crime group behind its importation and will impact its ability to continue operating.

“Combating the threat of Class A drugs is a priority for the NCA and we will continue to work with partners at home and abroad to protect the public.”