Wesley Holmes

An 11‑member organised crime gang attempted to retrieve 500kg of cocaine worth £40 million that had been dropped into international waters, but the plan collapsed when GPS trackers on the drug packages malfunctioned. Multiple attempts were made to recover the haul, with the second effort retrieving 16 bales before law enforcement intercepted the operation at Medmerry Beach in West Sussex. A mix of guilty verdicts and admissions at Portsmouth Crown Court confirmed roles ranging from leadership and coordination to retrieval and landing party assistance. Sentencing is scheduled for November, and authorities highlighted the seizure as a significant disruption to UK drug trafficking networks.