UK: British police have seized €5.8 billion worth of suspected US bonds and €9.3 million of assets after breaking a major international drug-trafficking ring.
If the bonds are genuine, the seizure will go down as one of the biggest in criminal history. The wealth of former Colombian drug baron Pablo Escobar was estimated by Fortune Magazine in the late 1980s at a relatively modest $2 billion.
The National Crime Squad (NCS) said it had arrested nine people in London and the surrounding area in south-east England as part of Operation Hobart, which began in July. All have been charged with drugs-related offences. It also said it had seized 55,000 ecstasy tablets, a pill press, a small amount of cocaine and cannabis, ecstasy powder and around 15 kg (33 lb) of amphetamine paste.
According to the El Tiempo newspaper in Bogota, nine men and one woman were arrested.
The newspaper named them as: Mr Herbert Charles Austin, Ms Susan May, Mr Sanjot Mozumder, Mr Saffe Durbar, Mr Andrew Winters, Mr Paul Murphy, Mr Joseph White, Mr Anthony Dymott, Mr Richard Forwaid and Mr Paul Martin.
El Universal newspaper also named Mr Andrew Winters as one of those arrested.
As a result of the police investigation, information was passed to the Colombian authorities and a joint operation, codenamed Operation Crab, was set up which has lasted six months, according to Colombian media reports.
News of the drugs and money bust emerged yesterday after Colombian authorities announced details of the raids. A total of 14 people have been arrested in Britain, Ecuador, and Colombia.
The operation had targeted criminals operating in London, Quito, and Cali sending cocaine by sea. The drugs were taken by one of two routes, either via Ecuador to Europe or through Mexico to England.
The packages of cocaine were hidden in metal parts to be used in heavy machinery, according to El Universal. The organisation was caught following surveillance and phone tapping .
In the UK, Ms Jackie Bennett, a spokeswoman for the NCS, said: "The main thrust of the investigation was a drugs conspiracy."
Most of the British arrests were made on July 18th and August 7th, and all the suspects have been charged.
"\ are due to appear for a plea and directions hearing at Winchester Crown Court in mid-November," Ms Bennett said. - (Reuters/PA)