Two Turkish men convicted of smuggling £500 million worth of cocaine on a ship off the coast of Scotland have been jailed for a combined total of 42 years.
Mumin Sahin and Emin Ozmen were found guilty after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow after three tonnes of the Class A drug were recoverd inside the MV Hamal in the North Sea, 100 miles off the coast of Aberdeen.
Mumin Sahin, 47, was sentenced to 22 years and Emin Ozmen, 51 to 20 years in prison.
The haul is said to be the UK's biggest cocaine raid.
The cocaine was found secreted within a large compartment deep inside the boat, adjacent to the ballast tanks.
The entry to the space was found under a wardrobe in one of the crew’s quarters, with the opening cemented over.
The investigation into the seizure, overseen by Crown Office officials, resulted in a three-month trial at Glasgow High Court.
Speaking following today’s sentencing, the Crown Agent, David Harvie said:
“The international drugs trade does not respect borders, and those of us whose job it is to dismantle it are working ever-closer together to ensure we stay one step ahead.
“Scotland’s reach in pursuing criminals is on a truly global scale and in this case we have dealt a substantial economic blow to organised criminals.
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