Pubdate: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 Source: Western Morning News, The (UK) Copyright: 2008 The Western Morning News & Media Ltd. Contact: http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4537 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) PRINCE TAKES PART IN NEW DRUGS RAID IN CARIBBEAN PRINCE William has been involved in a second drugs raid in the Caribbean since his naval training in the Westcountry. The Prince, who prepared for sea at Dartmouth's Britannia Royal Naval College, was on board a Lynx helicopter as it chased a speedboat suspected of shipping cocaine from South America. Gunners on the helicopter shot at the vessel's engine, which caught fire, and three men jumped into the sea. They were recovered and taken aboard HMS Iron Duke, on which Prince William is spending time as part of a two-month secondment in preparation for his future role as head of the armed forces. No drugs were found on the boat, but traces were found on two of the three crew members. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "Prince William was aboard the Lynx, which was about to go out on a training flight, and it was redirected to intercept the suspect vessel. "Prince William remained on board until the helicopter returned to Iron Duke. He witnessed the firing but wasn't involved in it. He then returned to ship to resume his normal duties as officer of the watch." It is the second drugs raid for the Prince since leaving the Westcountry. The MOD reported that a crew of six, including the Prince, swooped on a speedboat carrying UKP40 million of cocaine earlier this month. Prince William played a role in planning the operation and carrying out surveillance. After the latest operation, Commander Mark Newland, the commanding officer of HMS Iron Duke, said: "This first 30-day patrol of our Caribbean deployment has been an enormous success. "My ship's company are elated at again disrupting the activities of the suspected drug-runners." William, 26, an officer in the Household Cavalry regiment, is spending five weeks on the frigate as part of his Royal Navy placement. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake