Pubdate: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 Source: Times, The (UK) Copyright: 1999 Times Newspapers Ltd Contact: http://www.the-times.co.uk/ Author: Linus Gregoriadis COCAINE FOUND ON SHIP SEIZED BY NAVY A HURRICANE was hampering the search last night of a ship seized in the Caribbean by the Royal Navy and found to be carrying a huge haul of cocaine, possibly destined for Britain. Members of the crew of HMS Northumberland, based in Devonport, have helped the US Coast Guard to find more than two tonnes of cocaine worth pounds 135 million on the vessel north of Venezuela. The warship stopped and searched the boat after tracking it for more than seven hours. The search of the Panamanian-registered MV Adriatik lasted for 50 hours before the boat was escorted to the US Virgin Islands for inspection by American coastguards. The haul was found hidden in bales under the ship's 800-tonne cargo of sugar cane, but the search was interrupted because of a hurricane warning. Commander Mike Pearey, HMS Northumberland's commanding officer, said: "We expect them to find more cocaine. There may be a substantial amount still to come." HMS Northumberland left Plymouth in June and is on patrol in the West Indies, where she has been sent to support counter-drugs operations. Commander Pearey, who said his ship's 184-strong company was on standby to assist in any disaster relief effort in the wake of Hurricane Lenny, added: "It was our first really big haul and we're absolutely delighted." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea