I don’t know how I missed this last month, but Captain’s Corner had it. Apparently, a 2,000 horsepower drug running inflatable boat was confiscated by British authorities with over 300kg of cocaine aboard!
The Euro drug runner was whipping across the English Channel several times a week, basically a blur on British Coast Guard radar. After taunting the BCG for some time, a specialized chopper was brought in to catch it. Here’s more on the story:
Richard Davidson, director of Crompton Marine, was arrested in 2004 by Spanish authorities conducting anti-drug smuggling operations. Seems they had confiscated a number of these boats and determined that he was producing them specifically for drug runners. He even advertised them as high speed and low profile, able to avoid radar.
Despite his arrest, an associate apparently kept the business going under the name Nautexco Marine. Boats range from 30-60 feet, cost upwards of $680,000 and are powered by as many as eight 250hp outboard motors delivering speeds of 70mph! Their purpose seems to be high speed transport between north Africa and southern Spain.
Surprisingly, Crompton Marine still maintains an active website so if you’re in the market for such a specialized craft, check them out. I’ll bet waterskiing behind one would be an adreneline rush!
